Tacoma, WA
Census place 5370000 · pop 222,758
Home to the iconic Tacoma Narrows Bridge, whose 1940 predecessor "Galloping Gertie" famously collapsed in the wind.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$479,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
55.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
37.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
44 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
12.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,781/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.93% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
34.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
92.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+4.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$85,884 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
11.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
19.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
Not measured for Tacoma: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Tacoma, WA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Tacoma scores 43/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is physical inactivity and its weakest is natural disaster risk. Washington overall ranks #24 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Tacoma, WA expensive to live in?
- Tacoma has a median home value of $479,600 and typical rent around $1,781/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Tacoma, WA?
- Its weakest measured area is natural disaster risk (99/100) — 14/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
- What is Tacoma, WA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is physical inactivity (19.8%) — 79/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home to the iconic Tacoma Narrows Bridge, whose 1940 predecessor "Galloping Gertie" famously collapsed in the wind.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.