Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Tacoma, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

Showing latest census year. Full demographic history available with a paid plan. View plans →

Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

222,758

Median Agei

37.2

Race & Ethnicityi

White

55.6%123,755

Hispanic/Latino

13.8%30,834

Two or More

9.6%21,457

Asian

9.4%20,938

Black

9.3%20,698

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.9%2,007

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.8%1,789

Other

0.6%1,280

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.7%7,503

High School Diploma

20%31,853

Some College (<1 yr)

8.1%12,854

Some College (1+ yr)

13.7%21,764

Associate's Degree

10%15,897

Bachelor's Degree

21.3%33,948

Master's Degree

9.1%14,410

Professional Degree

2.7%4,232

Doctorate

1.5%2,383

HS or Higher

91%

BA or Higher

34.5%

Graduate+

13.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$479,600

Median Renti

$1,676

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

55.8%51,893

Renter-Occupied

44.2%41,140

Total Units

97,298

Homeownership

55.8%

Vacancy Rate

4.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.1%1,091

$50K–$100K

0.7%366

$100K–$150K

0.4%217

$150K–$200K

1.2%632

$200K–$300K

5.3%2,731

$300K–$500K

45.8%23,789

$500K–$1M

39.2%20,331

$1M+

5.3%2,736

Rent Distribution

Under $500

2,448

$500–$750

1,410

$750–$1,000

1,582

$1,000–$1,250

4,378

$1,250–$1,500

5,769

$1,500–$2,000

12,632

$2,000+

11,835

Year Built

2020 or later

1.7%1,624

2010–2019

7.7%7,511

2000–2009

8.5%8,311

1990–1999

8.7%8,490

1980–1989

9%8,757

1970–1979

11.9%11,610

1960–1969

9%8,788

1950–1959

8.5%8,312

1940–1949

7.9%7,702

1939 or earlier

26.9%26,193

Heating Fuel

Electricity

62.9%58,490

Utility Gas

33%30,672

Bottled/LP Gas

1.2%1,154

Fuel Oil

1.1%998

Wood

0.8%744

No Fuel

0.8%700

Other

0.2%154

Solar

0.1%91

Coal

0%30

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$85,884

Mean Household Incomei

$107,897

Per Capita Incomei

$45,650

Poverty Ratei

12.1%

Unemploymenti

5.5%

Labor Forcei

121,200

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.9%4,602

$10K–$15K

3.3%3,109

$15K–$20K

2.8%2,583

$20K–$25K

3%2,756

$25K–$30K

2.3%2,138

$30K–$35K

2.4%2,245

$35K–$40K

2.5%2,298

$40K–$45K

3.1%2,910

$45K–$50K

3.5%3,263

$50K–$60K

6.4%5,944

$60K–$75K

9.7%9,059

$75K–$100K

13.3%12,342

$100K–$125K

11.8%10,989

$125K–$150K

7.8%7,262

$150K–$200K

11.5%10,735

$200K+

11.6%10,798

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

6,243

Residentsi

10,056

Avg. Tenant Renti

$398/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

18 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing5 homes

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers370 homes88% occupied$555/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Mod Rehab70 homes96% occupied$216/mo rent

Rehabilitated buildings with project-based rental assistance

Project Based Section 81,317 homes96% occupied$368/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC250 homes89% occupied$371/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $85,884/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $26K/yr

89.8%

Very low income$26K–$43K/yr

7.8%

Low income$43K–$69K/yr

2.4%

Who Receives This Housing

63.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

46.6% of subsidized households are minority

30.3% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

68.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

27,99112.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

4,528

Philippines

2,890

Korea

1,982

China

950

Canada

867

Germany

601

United Kingdom

475

India

470

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

110,688

Avg. Commutei

28.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

112,350

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

15,769(8.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

92.9%Insured

7.1%Uninsured