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McChord AFB, WA
Full City Profile · Washington · Pierce County County
2.4
/5.0
C
Fair
2,895
Population
492/sq mi density
$55,662
Median Income
$23,941 per capita
$2,315
Median Rent
51.0% income on rent
54°F
Avg Temperature
240 sunny days/yr
641
Violent Crime/100K
4,156 property/100K
C
Overall
2.4 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$55,662 median income, 0.4% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.0 / 5.0
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
641 violent crimes/100K (69% above avg)
B+
Education
3.6 / 5.0
32.4% bachelor's degree or higher
McChord AFB experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 240 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 40.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 28.
Temperature
43°F Jan (6°C)
67°F Jul (19°C)
| Annual Average | 53.7°F |
| 1% below US avg | |
| January Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 240 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 308 ft (94 m) |
| Area | 5.8 sq mi (15.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 492/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 47.1327°N, 122.4919°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Pierce County County |
| Nearest Airport | Olympia Regional (OLM) 22 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 28.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0412 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 17.9 ppb |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 6.8 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 98.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 14.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 60.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
6 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 250.0 m (820 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1980 | WASHINGTON | Explosion | 250.0 m | 61 | 106 km |
| 1894 | PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA | Meteorological | 3.0 m | 2 | 17 km |
| 1891 | WASHINGTON | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.4 m | — | 123 km |
| 1949 | PUGET SOUND, WA | Meteorological | 2.4 m | — | 19 km |
| 1949 | PUGET SOUND, WA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | 8 | 10 km |
| 1820 | CAMANO ISLAND, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 104 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Nearby Volcanoes
7 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rainier (64 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Rainier | Stratovolcano | 4,392 m (14,409 ft) | 1450 | 64 km |
| St. Helens | Stratovolcano | 2,549 m (8,363 ft) | 2008 | 106 km |
| Adams | Stratovolcano | 3,742 m (12,277 ft) | 950 | 128 km |
| West Crater | Volcanic field | 1,329 m (4,360 ft) | -5750 | 143 km |
| Indian Heaven | Shield(s) | 1,806 m (5,925 ft) | -6250 | 143 km |
| Glacier Peak | Stratovolcano | 3,213 m (10,541 ft) | 1700 | 150 km |
| Baker | Stratovolcano(es) | 3,285 m (10,778 ft) | 1880 | 190 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43°F (6°C) | 6.6 in | |
| February | 41°F (5°C) | 5.2 in | |
| March | 44°F (7°C) | 4.7 in | |
| April | 48°F (9°C) | 3.6 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 2.4 in | |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 2.1 in | |
| July | 67°F (19°C) | 1.0 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 65°F (18°C) | 1.3 in | |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 2.1 in | |
| October | 51°F (11°C) | 3.7 in | |
| November | 44°F (6°C) | 7.0 in | Wettest |
| December | 39°F (4°C) | 6.9 in | Coldest |
McChord AFB has a seasonal temperature swing of 28°F / from 39°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.6 inches, with November being the wettest month (7.0") and July the driest (1.0").