Above Average CostHigh CrimeTacoma School District
Tacoma Washington Aerial, June 2025 · Spicypepper999 / CC0Commencement Bay Land Improvement Co. business card · Commencement Bay Land and Improvement Co. / Public domainSidewheel steamer ALASKAN at the Northern Pacific Dock, Tacoma (CURTIS 1106) · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainOdd Fellows Parade on C Street, looking south from building at corner of 9th Street, Tacoma, April 26, 1893 (WAITE 3) · Alvin H. Waite / Public domain
Tacoma is a mid-sized city of 219,234 in Washington, with a median household income of $79,085
and a 5.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is
13% above the national average.
Strengths:
Tacoma stands out for solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Tacoma is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Tacoma city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 113.0
Tacoma's overall cost of living index is 113.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Tacoma costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.
Metric
Tacoma, WA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$415,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,489
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$79,085
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Tacoma's violent crime rate is 1063.0 per 100,000 residents
— 180% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1063.0 /100k
Property Crime
5603.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Tacoma is served primarily by Tacoma School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Tacoma, WA
National Avg
School District
Tacoma School District
—
Elementary Schools
36
—
Middle Schools
13
—
High Schools
16
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Tacoma sees average highs of 48.1°F in January
and 76.8°F in July,
with 40.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.6 inches of snow per year.
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average.
That puts Tacoma roughly 13% above the national average in cost.
The median home price is $415,300 and median rent is $1,489/month.
Tacoma's violent crime rate is 1063.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5603.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Tacoma are operated by Tacoma School District.
The district has 36 elementary, 13 middle, and 16 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.8:1. 32.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Tacoma, WA has a population of 219,234, a median household income of $79,085, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Tacoma averages 48.1°F in January and 76.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.8 inches
with about 5.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Tacoma, WA is covered by 13 ZIP codes: 98409, 98421, 98404, 98407, 98422, 98406, 98405, 98408, 98418, 98465, 98402, 98403, 98416.
The population of Tacoma, Washington is 219,234 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Tacoma: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $415,300, median household income $79,085, crime index 275 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tacoma side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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