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Economy, jobs and prices in Tacoma, Washington: official figures

The median household income in Tacoma was $85,884 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 357th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Washington median $98,141.

Median household income
$85,884
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
5.6%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
28.8 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,676
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$479,600
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
55.8%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
92.8%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Tacoma?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Tacoma averaged $45,650 a year in 2020-2024, 297th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Washington: $53,744).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Tacoma?

Tacoma's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.433 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 295th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Tacoma, Washington?

5.6% of the civilian labor force in Tacoma was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (6,621 people), 353rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Washington's 5.1%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Tacoma are working?

66.1% of Tacoma's 183,247 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 382nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Tacoma have jobs?

112,350 residents of Tacoma held civilian jobs, 61.3% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 2,229 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Tacoma?

The largest industry group for working residents of Tacoma was education, health care and social assistance (25.0% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (10.8%) and retail trade (10.7%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Tacoma work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 7.4% of working residents of Tacoma, 302nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 10.8% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Tacoma, Washington?

Commuters in Tacoma took 28.8 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 195th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 11.7% travelled an hour or more and 24.5% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Tacoma get to work?

15.7% of workers living in Tacoma worked from home in 2020-2024, 327th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 66.0% drove to work alone, 9.9% carpooled, 3.9% used public transport and 2.7% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Tacoma, Washington?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Tacoma was $1,676 a month in 2020-2024, 357th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Washington: $1,760).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Tacoma?

Owner-occupied homes in Tacoma had a median value of $479,600 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 280th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Washington: $564,600).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Tacoma?

The median home value in Tacoma was 5.6 times the median household income, 270th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Tacoma, Washington own their home?

55.8% of the 93,033 occupied homes in Tacoma were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 41,140 were rented, 348th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Washington: 63.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Tacoma have broadband?

92.8% of households in Tacoma had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 391st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Washington: 93.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Tacoma have no internet?

4.6% of households in Tacoma (4,321) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 394th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 10.9% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Tacoma compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 357 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
354Chapel Hill$85,989
355St. Charles$85,937
356Plainfield$85,908
357Tacoma$85,884
358Bozeman$85,747
359Waxahachie$85,723
360Atlanta$85,652
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 297 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
294Bismarck$45,788
295Olympia$45,674
296Bloomington$45,655
297Tacoma$45,650
298Vancouver$45,636
299Danbury$45,585
300St. Peters$45,579
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 529 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
526Bloomington0.434
527Hampton0.434
528Kettering0.434
529Tacoma0.433
530Largo0.433
531Doral0.433
532Lancaster0.433
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 353 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
350Oak Park5.6%
351Berkeley5.6%
352Colorado Springs5.6%
353Tacoma5.6%
354Clovis5.6%
355Elyria5.6%
356Wichita5.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 382 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
379San Marcos66.2%
380Oceanside66.2%
381Placentia66.2%
382Tacoma66.1%
383New Brunswick66.1%
384West Allis66.1%
385Collierville66.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 195 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
192Daly City28.8
193Holly Springs28.8
194Buena Park28.8
195Tacoma28.8
196Oceanside28.7
197Saratoga Springs28.7
198Merced28.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 327 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
324Harrisburg15.8%
325Salem15.8%
326San Leandro15.8%
327Tacoma15.7%
328Sterling Heights15.7%
329New Braunfels15.6%
330Columbus15.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 131 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
128Logan4.0%
129Des Plaines4.0%
130Sunnyvale3.9%
131Tacoma3.9%
132Waterbury3.9%
133Mountain View3.9%
134Youngstown3.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 522 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
519Malden7.4%
520Chula Vista7.4%
521Charlotte7.4%
522Tacoma7.4%
523Glendale7.4%
524Columbus7.4%
525Norfolk7.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 248 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
245Warwick25.0%
246Barnstable Town25.0%
247Grand Rapids25.0%
248Tacoma25.0%
249Norfolk25.0%
250Omaha24.9%
251Boynton Beach24.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 357 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
354Beaumont$1,681
355Lodi$1,680
356Eagan$1,679
357Tacoma$1,676
358Homestead$1,674
359Lewisville$1,670
360Haverhill$1,668
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 280 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
277Coeur d'Alene$483,500
278Clovis$482,700
279Evanston$481,200
280Tacoma$479,600
281Loveland$479,000
282Layton$477,700
283Rancho Cordova$477,600
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 267 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
264Stamford5.6x
265Murray5.6x
266Vacaville5.6x
267Tacoma5.6x
268Fayetteville5.6x
269New Orleans5.6x
270Tampa5.6x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 476 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
473Nashua55.8%
474San Jose55.8%
475Newark55.8%
476Tacoma55.8%
477Gresham55.8%
478Lauderhill55.8%
479Chicopee55.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 391 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
388Victorville92.8%
389Casa Grande92.8%
390Medford92.8%
391Tacoma92.8%
392Charleston92.8%
393Coon Rapids92.8%
394Midland92.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Tacoma ranks 430 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
427El Cajon4.7%
428Albany4.7%
429Rialto4.7%
430Tacoma4.6%
431Daly City4.6%
432West Covina4.6%
433Brooklyn Park4.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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