Demographics

Tacoma is one of the most racially diverse cities in Washington State: nearly 40 percent of people living in Tacoma are Latino, African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, Multiracial or Native American. Guided by the Tacoma 2025 strategic plan, the city’s Office of Equity and Human Rights has been at the forefront of establishing anti-racist practices in local government, investing in BIPOC leadership and implementing a Racial Equity Action Plan. The ultimate vision? To make Tacoma-Pierce County a place where every person can achieve their full potential. Visit our page on BIPOC-focused business support for more information.

The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County works closely with the Tacoma Chamber to create proactive programming to ensure Pierce County businesses work towards anti-racist policies. Through involvement in projects like Washington Employers for Racial Equity, which brings together CEOs and corporate leaders to advance equity and opportunity across the state, the two organizations are working to ensure they live up to this standard and move the community forward. Read the Chamber and EDB’s joint letter on anti-racism and business here.

In 2019, colleges and universities in Tacoma-Pierce County awarded more than 11,000 degrees, adding more career-ready graduates to our region’s highly skilled talent pool. Higher education institutions like the University of Washington Tacoma, University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University,  Clover Park Technical College, Pierce Community College, Bates Technical College and Tacoma Community College equip graduates with the expertise to become leaders in vital fields like technology, life sciences and business management. Overall, 91.5% of Tacoma-Pierce County residents hold a high school degree or higher, while 27.2% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Tacoma-Pierce County is rife with economic opportunity to land a stable career, support a family and enjoy the benefits of living in an affordable, scenic part of the larger Seattle-Tacoma metro area. At $72,113, the median household income in Pierce County puts us among the highest earning counties in Washington State. At the same time, the cost of living in Tacoma-Pierce County is significantly less than New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco and our northern neighbor Seattle. Median home prices are less than $500,000, and choices range from traditional Victorian and Craftsman styles to condos and rural acreages.