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Washington city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Tacoma?

What it costs to live in Tacoma, and how it compares with other Washington cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

36

70th best value in Washington

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Washington cities.

Overall livability

27

81st overall in Washington

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Tacoma is home to about 217,332 people. A typical home runs $347,100 and a household earns around $70,000, a price-to-income ratio of 5.0. Among Washington's largest cities, it ranks 70th for value and 81st overall.

Tacoma at a glance

Median home price

$347,100

48th in WA of 90

Median rent

$1,343/mo

Median household income

$70,000

Home price to income

5.0x

Unemployment

5.0%

43rd in WA of 90

School rating

6/10

64th in WA of 90

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in WA of 90

Walk score

26/100

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‹ See all top Washington cities ranked  ยท  Washington state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Washington only. Updated 2026.