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Tacoma, WA

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Tacoma, WA

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 65
Population220,482
Foreign Born5.4%
Population Density4,429people per mi²
Median Age37.3 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

147/100

47% above national average

B

The Real Cost of Living in Tacoma, Washington

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $25k$48k
Comfortable $88k$130k
Luxury $136k+$211k+
Elite (Top 5%) $160k+$248k+
Affordability Ratio

65%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean88%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
4
Negative
14

Groceries

7 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Hospital

19 within 20 miles

0.6mi

Airport

SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International

15.3mi

Post Office

USPS — Tacoma, WA

0.4mi

Critical Amenities

Golf12Nearest 1.1 mi
Camping20Nearest 4.5 mi
Marina9Nearest 1.3 mi
Winery0Nearest 13.2 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range4Nearest 5.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$84k+6.0%
12% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.1M
68% above US avg
College Educated
33.5%
4% below US avg
WFH
13.7%
4% below US avg
Homeownership
56.5%
14% below US avg
Median Home
$455k
61% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
F
High Risk

Significantly higher crime rates than 85% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
48.3
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−35.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−27.6%
Homicide
0.10 / 1k Residents252% above state avg
Robbery
1.55 / 1k Residents222% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
6.24 / 1k Residents245% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−42.4%
Burglary
5.17 / 1k Residents76% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
25.95 / 1k Residents101% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
8.18 / 1k Residents252% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+10Leans Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Tacoma, Washington
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.7% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
D-
PoorHigh regulation

Energy independence: Importer (55% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season242 days341 frost-free
Annual Rainfall48.1"
Elevation387 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D-
Poor25 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor4,429/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C-
Weak10 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake, Inland Flooding, Heat Wave, Cold Wave, Avalanche
Border / Coast
B
Fairborder 121 mi · coast 26 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$531.9M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CitySeattle737k people are 25 mi away
Nearest Major AirportSEA15 mi away
Distance to State Capital26 miOlympia, WA
Nearest Prison9.7 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:00:53.000Z

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