Quick answer: Tacoma is Pierce County’s largest city, with about 231,000 people on Commencement Bay, home to the Port of Tacoma, Point Defiance Park and the Tacoma Dome transit hub. The typical home value was about $482,600 in September 2026, roughly the same as a year earlier, according to Zillow. Here’s what to know about living, buying and selling in Tacoma, with sources for every number.
Updated November 2026. Our Tacoma office is at 9621 Golden Given Rd E.
Tacoma at a glance
| Population | 231,000 (April 2026) |
| Typical home value | $482,647 (September 2026) |
| A year earlier | $482,424 (September 2025) |
| County | Pierce (county seat) |
| School district | Tacoma Public Schools |
| Trains | Sounder S Line, T Line light rail |
“Typical home value” is Zillow’s estimate for a middle-priced home, not a sale price. For actual sales, see the Pierce County housing market page, which we update every month with official NWMLS numbers.
The City of Destiny
- The railroad: in 1873 the Northern Pacific Railroad chose Commencement Bay as the western end of its transcontinental line, according to HistoryLink.
- Two cities become one: the railroad built its depot two miles south of the original Tacoma City and called it New Tacoma. After the transcontinental link was finished in 1883, the two merged into one city the following January.
- The nickname: promoter George Francis Train came up with “City of Destiny.” In the early 1900s Tacoma was also known as the “Lumber Capital of the World.”
- County seat: Pierce County voters moved the county seat from Steilacoom to New Tacoma in 1880.
Neighborhoods
The City of Tacoma organizes the city into eight neighborhood council areas: Central Tacoma, Eastside, New Tacoma (downtown), North End, Northeast, South End, South Tacoma and West End. Every street is different. If you’d like to compare two neighborhoods side by side, ask us and we’ll pull recent sales for both.
Schools and colleges
Tacoma Public Schools serves about 28,000 students from preschool through grade 12, with 36 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, 11 high schools and four early learning centers.
- High schools include Foss, Lincoln, Mount Tahoma, Oakland, Silas and Stadium, plus specialty schools such as the School of the Arts (SOTA), Science and Math Institute (SAMi) and iDEA.
- Colleges: the University of Washington Tacoma (about 5,000 students, downtown), the University of Puget Sound (founded in 1888) and Tacoma Community College.
School boundaries can change, so always check a specific address with the district before you buy.
Parks and the waterfront
- Point Defiance Park: a 760-acre park founded in 1888, with old-growth forest, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Fort Nisqually and Owen Beach, according to HistoryLink.
- Wright Park: a 27-acre park near downtown with about 600 trees and the W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, which opened in 1908.
- The Port: the Port of Tacoma, founded in 1918, owns nearly 2,500 acres in the Tacoma Tideflats and is part of The Northwest Seaport Alliance with the Port of Seattle.
Getting around
- Tacoma Dome Station: Sound Transit’s hub for the Sounder train, the T Line, ST Express and Pierce Transit buses, and Amtrak.
- Sounder S Line: weekday trains run from Lakewood through South Tacoma and Tacoma Dome to King Street Station in Seattle.
- T Line light rail: runs from Tacoma Dome to St. Joseph through downtown, the Stadium District and the Hilltop. The Hilltop extension opened in September 2023, adding 2.4 miles and seven stations.
- Buses: Pierce Transit’s Stream rapid bus connects downtown Tacoma and Spanaway.
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge: SR 16 crosses to the Gig Harbor peninsula. Tolls are only collected on trips headed to Tacoma; WSDOT lists $4.50 with a Good To Go! pass for a two-axle vehicle.
Volcano and earthquake hazards
The City of Tacoma says lahars (volcanic mudflows from Mount Rainier) “are the greatest volcanic hazard for Tacoma,” and that some areas are more exposed to earthquake shaking because of soil conditions or a possible tsunami. The city maps volcanic, landslide, seismic and erosion hazard areas. Ask us to check where a specific home sits on these maps before you buy.
Homes for sale in Tacoma
Looking at homes for sale in Tacoma? Search every home for sale on the MLS or get new listings by email. In October 2026 Pierce County had 20% more homes for sale than a year earlier, so buyers have more to choose from.
Buying a home in Tacoma
- Know your payment first. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.24% on October 29, 2026, according to Freddie Mac. Get pre-approved so you know what fits before you tour.
- Check the address. Confirm the school, the commute, hazard maps and HOA rules for the exact home, not just the city.
Selling a home in Tacoma
- Start with a real number. A price based on recent sales near you matters more than a citywide average. Get a free home value.
- Watch the county trend. The median sale price in Pierce County was $560,000 in October 2026, the same as a year earlier, with about 3.9 months of inventory. See the latest county numbers.
Nearby
Looking around the South Sound? See the Pierce County housing market, or living in Lakewood, Puyallup and Spanaway.
Common questions
What is the average home price in Tacoma, WA?
Zillow’s typical home value for Tacoma was $482,647 in September 2026, about the same as $482,424 a year earlier. For actual sales across Pierce County, the median sale price was $560,000 in October 2026, according to NWMLS.
What are the neighborhoods in Tacoma?
The City of Tacoma uses eight neighborhood council areas: Central Tacoma, Eastside, New Tacoma, North End, Northeast, South End, South Tacoma and West End.
Is there a train from Tacoma to Seattle?
Yes. Sound Transit’s Sounder S Line runs weekday trains from Tacoma Dome and South Tacoma to King Street Station in Seattle.
Is Tacoma in a lahar zone?
Parts of the area are. The City of Tacoma says lahars from Mount Rainier are the greatest volcanic hazard for Tacoma and maps volcanic hazard areas, so check the exact address.
How much is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll?
Tolls are only collected on trips headed to Tacoma. WSDOT lists $4.50 with a Good To Go! pass for a two-axle vehicle, with higher rates at the booth or by mail.
Talk to a local agent
Thinking about buying or selling in Tacoma? Visit Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Northwest Home Team at 9621 Golden Given Rd E in Tacoma, call (360) 529-0992, or find a local agent.
Sources
- Washington State Office of Financial Management, April 1, 2026 Population of Cities, Towns and Counties
- Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index (Tacoma, all homes, September 2026)
- HistoryLink, Tacoma – Thumbnail History, Point Defiance Park and Wright Park
- City of Tacoma, Neighborhood Council Program and Geological Hazard Areas
- Tacoma Public Schools, About and Schools; UW Tacoma; University of Puget Sound; Tacoma Community College
- Sound Transit, S Line, T Line and Hilltop extension; Pierce Transit; WSDOT, Tacoma Narrows Bridge tolling
- Port of Tacoma, About
- NWMLS monthly market recap, October 2026 (Pierce County median sale price, active listings, months of inventory)
- Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey, October 29, 2026
All listings featuring the icon are provided courtesy of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. The database information herein is provided from and copyrighted by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS). NWMLS data may not be reproduced or redistributed and is only for people viewing this site. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. The information contained in these listings has not been verified by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Northwest Home Team and should be verified by the buyer. All properties are subject to prior sale or withdrawal. All rights are reserved by copyright. Property locations as displayed on any map are best approximations only and exact locations should be independently verified. Listing information last updated on May 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM PST.
