What percentage of people rent in University Place, WA?

Name: Renters and owners in University Place, WA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

42.8% (±3.3 points) of the occupied homes in University Place, WA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 5,856 renting households against 7,826 that own their home.

In University Place, the share of households that rent went from 43.5% in 2015–2019 to 42.8% in 2020–2024 (−0.7 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 42.8% (±3.3 points)
Renting households: 5,856 (±495)
Median renter income: $70,000 (±$16,174)

Who rents and who owns in University Place

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	University Place	Pierce County	Washington	United States
Renter-occupied share	42.8% (±3.3 points)	35.3% (±0.6 points)	36.2% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	5,856 (±495)	123,930 (±2,243)	1,110,043 (±7,257)	45,017,354
Owning households	7,826 (±588)	227,400 (±2,414)	1,954,777 (±10,007)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.3 (±0.2)	2.3 (±0.0)	2.2 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.7 (±0.1)	2.7 (±0.0)	2.7 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$70,000 (±$16,174)	$68,118 (±$1,782)	$66,868 (±$600)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$126,330 (±$9,190)	$120,834 (±$1,287)	$119,764 (±$583)	$100,009

In University Place, the renter share is higher than in Pierce County (35.3%).

It is also higher than in Washington (36.2%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Pierce County, University Place ranks 11 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 86 of 472.

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

How renting in University Place has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	43.5% (±2.3 points)	42.8% (±3.3 points)	−0.7 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$1,198 (±$30)	$1,762 (±$57)	+47.1%	Up after inflation
Median household income	$71,697 (±$3,323)	$99,031 (±$4,916)	+38.1%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near University Place

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with University Place
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
University Place	—	42.8% (±3.3 points)	—
Fircrest	1.8 mi	28.2% (±7.3 points)	Lower
Lakewood	3.7 mi	52.5% (±2.7 points)	Higher
Steilacoom	3.8 mi	37.1% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
Tacoma	4.8 mi	44.2% (±1.3 points)	Not measurably different
Wollochet	4.9 mi	25.3% (±8.2 points)	Lower
Fox Island	5.5 mi	7.3% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Ruston	5.9 mi	31.2% (±12.6 points)	Not measurably different
McChord AFB	6.3 mi	97.3% (±4.1 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Fircrest, WA (28.2%), Wollochet, WA (25.3%), Fox Island, WA (7.3%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Lakewood, WA (52.5%), McChord AFB, WA (97.3%).

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

Households that rent across Pierce County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
5	Lakewood	52.5% (±2.7 points)
6	Parkland	48.2% (±3.1 points)
7	Puyallup	47.9% (±3.2 points)
8	Sumner	45.6% (±5.5 points)
9	Milton	45.0% (±6.2 points)
10	Tacoma	44.2% (±1.3 points)
11	University Place	42.8% (±3.3 points)
12	Midland	41.6% (±6.3 points)
13	Summit View	41.0% (±7.2 points)
14	DuPont	38.5% (±6.6 points)
15	Gig Harbor	37.8% (±4.7 points)
16	Clover Creek	37.2% (±7.2 points)
17	Steilacoom	37.1% (±6.5 points)

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

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about University Place

How many renters are there in University Place?

University Place has an estimated 5,856 (±495) renting households, 42.8% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in University Place?

In University Place, the share of households that rent went from 43.5% in 2015–2019 to 42.8% in 2020–2024 (−0.7 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in University Place?

A renting household in University Place has 2.3 people on average, against 2.7 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in University Place?

The median renting household in University Place, WA has an income of $70,000 (±$16,174) a year, against $126,330 for households that own their home.

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 University Place city, Washington (place:73465, in state:53).

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

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

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.