Tacoma

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Tacoma's impressive Museum of Glass
Historic Union Station in Tacoma
Stadium High School's legendary football field overlooking Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA Area Guide

The City of Destiny boasts creativity and scenic views

Coastal Affordable Artistic Active Mountain Views

Living in Tacoma offers sweeping views of Mount Rainier and easy access to Puget Sound's waterfront. This port city features an array of housing options, from historic Craftsman homes in the North End to apartments in downtown. Point Defiance Park spans 700 acres, featuring beaches, hiking trails, and the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The Stadium and Proctor Districts each offer local shops and restaurants within walkable neighborhoods. Current rental data shows average rents of $1,481 for one-bedroom apartments with a 1.93% annual increase.

The Museum of Glass, connected to downtown by the Bridge of Glass showcasing Dale Chihuly's works, anchors Tacoma's museum district. The University of Washington Tacoma campus occupies beautifully restored historic warehouses, while the Theatre District's Pantages Theater hosts performances throughout the year. The city's dining scene flourishes along 6th Avenue and in the Lincoln International District. Ruston Way's waterfront path offers waterside dining and recreation opportunities with panoramic views. Originally a railroad terminus, Tacoma retains its historic architecture while embracing modern development throughout its neighborhoods.

Explore the City

Tacoma's impressive Museum of Glass

Historic Union Station in Tacoma

Stadium High School's legendary football field overlooking Puget Sound

Boating is a popular Tacoma pastime

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Tacoma, WA is $1,248 for a studio, $1,499 for one bedroom, $1,796 for two bedrooms, and $2,211 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Tacoma has increased by 1.9% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,499/month
646 Sq Ft
House
$2,712/month
1,549 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,157/month
868 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,486/month
1,170 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Tacoma, WA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Tacoma, WA is 27.6% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Tacoma is 62.3% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,247 - $2,208. You can expect to pay 8.6% more for groceries, 9.8% less for utilities, and 27.8% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Tacoma, WA is for everyday living.

Somewhat Walkable

59 / 100

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

Minimal Transit

1 / 100

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

Bikeable

49 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Clover Creek Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

James Sales Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Geiger Montessori School

Public

Grades PK-5

Downing Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Spanaway Junior High School

Public

Grades 6-8

Columbia Junior High School

Public

Grades 6-8

Mason Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Meeker Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Children's Museum of Tacoma
  • Seymour Botanical Conservatory
  • Foss Waterway Seaport
  • Tacoma Nature Center
  • Swan Creek Park

Airports

  • Seattle-Tacoma International

Top Apartments in Tacoma

Houses for Rent in Tacoma

Property Management Companies in Tacoma, WA

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.