1st Advantage MortgageIn Pierce County, Washington, the typical household earns $99,564 a year and the typical rent is $1,806. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Pierce County, WA: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Pierce County
- The Pierce County job picture
- Pierce County housing compared with Washington
- The counties around Pierce County
- Pierce County towns compared
- Pierce County households compared
- Reading the Pierce County data as a borrower
- A Pierce County household budget, worked through
- A Pierce County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Pierce County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pierce County, WA: the basics
Pierce County is home to about 930,319 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 2nd most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. Packed into 1,668 square miles, that is close to 558 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area. Tacoma is the biggest of its 75 Census places, at roughly 222,758 people (24% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Pierce County
Half of Pierce County households take in less than $99,564 a year and half take in more, about the same as the Washington median of $98,141.
| Households earning | Pierce County | +/- vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.0% | -2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.2% | +1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.2% | +3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.6% | -2.9 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 50% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.8%, 1 point lower than the state's 9.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.423 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Pierce County median.
The Pierce County job picture
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Pierce County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 71% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Pierce County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.3% | -4.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Pierce County housing compared with Washington
Renters in Pierce County pay a median of $1,806 a month, 3% above the Washington figure of $1,760. By the Census definition, 53% of Pierce County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $526,600, about 5.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 65%. Median construction year: 1986.
| Measure | Pierce County | Washington | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,806/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $526,600 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 5.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 7% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The counties around Pierce County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (33 to 64 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Pierce County; King County is highest at $124,746 and Lewis County lowest at $74,796.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County | - | $99,564 | $1,806/mo | 65% |
| Thurston County, WA | 33 mi | $96,563 | $1,736/mo | 68% |
| King County, WA | 34 mi | $124,746 | $2,092/mo | 55% |
| Lewis County, WA | 34 mi | $74,796 | $1,097/mo | 76% |
| Kitsap County, WA | 47 mi | $104,158 | $1,822/mo | 70% |
| Mason County, WA | 52 mi | $83,270 | $1,285/mo | 82% |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 64 mi | $76,531 | $1,206/mo | 68% |
Pierce County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 75 Census places in Pierce County, by population. Together all 75 hold about 985,499 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Fox Island has the highest median household income on the list ($172,292) and McChord AFB the lowest ($54,808), counting places with at least 500 residents. City guides exist for the linked Pierce County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma | city | 222,758 | $85,884 | $1,676 | 20 mi |
| Auburn | city | 85,676 | $97,884 | $1,786 | 18 mi |
| South Hill | CDP | 68,025 | $113,130 | $2,088 | 8 mi |
| Lakewood | city | 62,937 | $74,720 | $1,525 | 19 mi |
| Puyallup | city | 42,746 | $97,826 | $1,812 | 11 mi |
| Parkland | CDP | 38,742 | $72,239 | $1,663 | 15 mi |
| Graham | CDP | 35,079 | $116,862 | $2,095 | 6 mi |
| University Place | city | 34,911 | $99,031 | $1,762 | 22 mi |
| Spanaway | CDP | 34,019 | $98,251 | $1,813 | 13 mi |
| Frederickson | CDP | 25,383 | $109,500 | $2,386 | 10 mi |
| Bonney Lake | city | 22,090 | $136,845 | $2,256 | 10 mi |
| Fort Lewis | CDP | 15,167 | $58,796 | $2,282 | 20 mi |
| Elk Plain | CDP | 14,276 | $107,313 | $2,172 | 10 mi |
| Artondale | CDP | 14,073 | $149,302 | $2,251 | 29 mi |
Pierce County households compared
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Pierce County | Washington | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.9% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.5% |
| 60+ min | 13.9% |
Reading the Pierce County data as a borrower
What the Pierce County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 24% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Pierce County budgets.
- Higher earners. 50% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Tight rental budgets. With 53% of Pierce County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Pierce County household budget, worked through
Here is the Pierce County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $8,297 gross per month ($99,564 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,806, which is 22% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,181 a month
- $1,762: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Pierce County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Pierce County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Washington license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Pierce County
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Washington license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Washington: Washington personal loans.
Related local guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
Is Pierce County a high-income county?
Its $99,564 median ranks 4th of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Pierce County rent compare with Washington?
$1,806 locally versus $1,760 for the state, 3% above.
I live in a small Pierce County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Tacoma, Auburn, South Hill, Lakewood, Puyallup and 70 more.
Can Pierce County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Washington county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Pierce County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Washington it is the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.