How many renters in Tacoma, WA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Tacoma, WA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

54.9% (±2.6 points) of renting households in Tacoma, WA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

44.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 32.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 54.9% (±2.6 points)
Paying 35% or more: 44.7% (±2.4 points)
Median share of income: 32.4% (±1.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in Tacoma

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Tacoma	Pierce County	Washington	United States
Less than 15%	9.7% (±1.3 points)	9.0%	12.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	10.5% (±1.3 points)	11.7%	12.3%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	12.2% (±1.4 points)	13.5%	13.3%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	12.7% (±1.5 points)	12.8%	12.1%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	10.2% (±1.1 points)	10.4%	9.8%	9.2%
35% or more	44.7% (±2.4 points)	42.6%	40.1%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Tacoma against Pierce County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Tacoma	Pierce County	Washington	United States
Paying 30% or more	54.9% (±2.6 points)	53.0% (±1.6 points)	49.9% (±0.5 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	44.7% (±2.4 points)	42.6% (±1.4 points)	40.1% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	32.4% (±1.0 points)	31.5% (±0.7 points)	30.0% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$58,876 (±$2,594)	$68,118 (±$1,782)	$66,868 (±$600)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,676 (±$28)	$1,806 (±$18)	$1,760 (±$7)	$1,413

In Tacoma, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Pierce County (53.0%).

It is also higher than in Washington (49.9%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Pierce County, Tacoma ranks 20 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 163 of 467.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Tacoma

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Tacoma
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Tacoma	—	54.9% (±2.6 points)	—
Fircrest	3.0 mi	35.2% (±14.2 points)	Lower
Ruston	4.0 mi	18.5% (±12.1 points)	Lower
University Place	4.8 mi	58.1% (±7.2 points)	Not measurably different
Fife	5.3 mi	52.5% (±7.6 points)	Not measurably different
Fife Heights	5.4 mi	54.6% (±59.6 points)	Not measurably different
Waller	5.4 mi	42.7% (±16.9 points)	Not measurably different
Midland	5.9 mi	47.4% (±12.6 points)	Not measurably different
Wollochet	5.9 mi	31.5% (±19.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Fircrest, WA (35.2%), Ruston, WA (18.5%), Wollochet, WA (31.5%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Pierce County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
14	Orting	59.2% (±18.8 points)
15	Wauna	58.3% (±25.0 points)
16 (tie)	Milton	58.1% (±13.8 points)
16 (tie)	Tehaleh	58.1% (±39.6 points)
16 (tie)	University Place	58.1% (±7.2 points)
19	Prairie Ridge	56.8% (±27.8 points)
20	Tacoma	54.9% (±2.6 points)
21	Gig Harbor	54.8% (±9.7 points)
22	Fife Heights	54.6% (±59.6 points)
23	Carbonado	54.5% (±57.2 points)
24	Edgewood	53.2% (±12.2 points)
25	Lakewood	52.8% (±5.7 points)
26	Fife	52.5% (±7.6 points)

Showing 13 of 59 places in Pierce County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Tacoma

Are renters in Tacoma rent-burdened?

54.9% of renting households in Tacoma pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Tacoma spend on rent?

The median renting household in Tacoma, WA spends 32.4% (±1.0 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Tacoma city, Washington (place:70000, in state:53).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.