Hello, Household incomes average around $83,857 in Tacoma. Poverty rate is 7.6%, which is pretty low. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Is this normal for Tacoma?
40 upvotes
29 Replies
Grayson Martin
I work in legal here and it exceeded my expectations. The job market for my field is improving. Feel free to reach out with questions..
40 upvotes
nathan_native
hard disagree but ok
35 upvotes
Ruby C.
good to know, thanks
33 upvotes
Zoey P.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Springfield for 15 years. Moved from Portland for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
education is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are stable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's improved dramatically in recent years. The outdoor scene is solid - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Springfield schools are solid. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited high-paying job options. Property taxes are high. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
33 upvotes
Audrey L.
Bought a house here in 2017 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone about the same since then.
33 upvotes
Harper
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a HR manager who relocated here from New York about 10 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Decent public transit for the size
- Strong sense of community
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are developing, gas is decent.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. Feel free to reach out with questions..
33 upvotes
Natalie Morgan
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I genuinely enjoy living here. Compared to Chicago it's better than expected.
30 upvotes
Lydia Cook
I work in real estate here and it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market for my field is decent. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
30 upvotes
Sophie Scott
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Oak Park for 4 years. Moved from Phoenix for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is solid - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Oak Park schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited shopping options. Homeless population growing downtown. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
27 upvotes
Scarlett Ruiz
Hot take but the quality of life is solid. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
27 upvotes
Joseph Howard
it depends on the neighborhood
27 upvotes
Anthony W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 12 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Highland side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
27 upvotes
Madelyn M.
Used to live on the Westside side, now on the South side. Completely different vibe. I love the pace of life here.
26 upvotes
Wyatt Long
I've lived in Downtown for about 11 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by food scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- The job market scene is decent
The downsides:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Dating scene is rough
Overall I'd rate it 9/10 for remote workers. No regrets on my end..
23 upvotes
Michael T.
Came here for cost of living and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The pet-friendliness is honestly better than expected and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
19 upvotes
Liam G.
exactly what I was thinking
19 upvotes
nyc_william
honestly same experience here
18 upvotes
Carson Chavez
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in North area are solid. Kids love it here.
18 upvotes
Owen
Saving this thread
17 upvotes
Violet F.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely improving and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Highland) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Limited high-paying job options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
17 upvotes
John Roberts
I work in retail here and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The job market for my field is underrated. Hope this helps!.
12 upvotes
Isaiah G.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The outdoor recreation is genuinely better than expected and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Cedar Grove) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Boston, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
10 upvotes
Brielle James
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is food scene. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
7 upvotes
Thomas Garcia
been saying this for years
6 upvotes
Kyle M.
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
Jose Roberts
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to San Francisco it's challenging.
2 upvotes
Kennedy Ward
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are wild. You get used to it after the first year.
0 upvotes
Ariana E.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from Austin about 2 years ago. The main reasons were work and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Good schools in most areas
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Limited high-paying job options
Financially, we've found it surprisingly good compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are competitive, gas is solid.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Definitely worth checking out..
0 upvotes
olivia_papa
I've lived in Fairview for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Raleigh, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size
- The walkability scene is average
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Urban sprawl is real
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Definitely worth checking out..
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