Population 256,057 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Tacoma
Household size in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
The average household in Tacoma has 2.49 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.5 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.3 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Tacoma is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.3, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 36.5 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in seven households in Tacoma (13.5%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Tacoma has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Washington cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Tacoma
Renters in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.1% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.9% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.9% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over four in ten households in Tacoma rent their homes (41.9%), above the national share of 34.8%. Nearly three in ten owners (28.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.6% of homes in Tacoma are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. The Seattle area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.0 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Tacoma is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only eight of the 219 Washington cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,024 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,110 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,297 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,845 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$821 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Tacoma runs $1,845 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the Seattle area overall ($2,193). Rent has climbed $821 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Tacoma
Bachelor's degrees in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.4% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.5% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.6% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Tacoma (32.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.0% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.2% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Tacoma is close to the national rate: 90.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Seattle area overall (93.1%). The share with a diploma has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Tacoma
| Period | Tacoma | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Tacoma: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Tacoma compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma | 2.49 | 38.3 | 13.5% | 41.9% | 5.6% | 1968 | $1,845 | 32.6% | 90.2% | 6.2% |
| Fircrest | 2.49 | 44.9 | 9.7% | 26.7% | 3.1% | 1972 | $1,628 | 49.6% | 98.3% | 6.2% |
| Midland | 2.77 | 35.4 | 17.2% | 43.2% | 6.5% | 1981 | $1,532 | 20.7% | 88.4% | 4.3% |
| University Place | 2.59 | 40.1 | 9.3% | 44.6% | 5.9% | 1980 | $1,987 | 41.2% | 95.3% | 5.0% |
| Fife | 2.86 | 31.6 | 11.7% | 50.9% | 6.5% | 1998 | $2,226 | 29.7% | 91.4% | 4.1% |
| Parkland | 2.70 | 36.8 | 14.1% | 48.9% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,655 | 19.1% | 90.2% | 6.3% |
| Lakewood | 2.43 | 39.5 | 12.1% | 52.9% | 8.8% | 1976 | $1,672 | 23.4% | 88.2% | 5.6% |
| Ruston | 1.81 | 48.4 | 4.9% | 41.7% | 3.7% | 1981 | $2,022 | 50.0% | 98.5% | 1.0% |
| Clover Creek | 2.48 | 47.1 | 8.4% | 32.0% | 9.5% | 1976 | $1,821 | 16.1% | 95.8% | 5.8% |
| Milton | 2.77 | 39.5 | 16.5% | 38.9% | 4.9% | 1983 | $2,108 | 23.1% | 92.2% | 5.5% |
| Steilacoom | 2.44 | 41.7 | 7.8% | 33.7% | 5.1% | 1979 | $2,041 | 46.9% | 92.7% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Charleston, SC · Chandler, AZ · Chula Vista, CA · Carlsbad, CA · Centreville, VA · Chapel Hill, NC · Carolina, PR · Cheektowaga, NY · Cedar Park, TX · Cedar Rapids, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Tacoma. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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