Tacoma, WA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Tacoma, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Tacoma →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Tacoma, Washington is home to roughly 219,234 residents. The typical household here earns $79,085 a year — roughly in line with the median we track across cities (+10%).
Anyone weighing a move to Tacoma should know the median home value is $415,300, above the multi-city median (+27%), and median rent runs $1,489 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
Buying a typical home in Tacoma would run about 5.3 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. Home prices near Tacoma have risen a steady 2.89% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. FEMA rates Tacoma's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,489/mo in Tacoma would take 22.6% of your income.
$488/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($415,300) would take 33.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$372/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Tacoma
Median home value is $415,300 and median gross rent is $1,489/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Pierce rose 2.89% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,971/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Tacoma's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Tacoma reported a violent crime rate of 865.6 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Tacoma
Planning a move to Tacoma? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Tacoma, WA?
- Cost of living in Tacoma centers on housing: median home value runs $415,300, median rent runs $1,489/month, and the typical household earns $79,085 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tacoma?
- At Tacoma's median rent of $1,489/month, the 30%-of-income guideline suggests an annual income around $59,560 to stay comfortably housed. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Tacoma.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Tacoma?
- Comparing the two in Tacoma: renting at the median $1,489/month needs about $59,560 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $415,300 median home needs roughly $95,019 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Tacoma safe?
- FBI data puts Tacoma's violent crime rate at 865.6 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Tacoma →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Tacoma's.