Where are the most affordable neighborhoods to buy a homein Pierce County?

Ever since creating MovetoTacoma.com back in 2015 I start the year by running neighborhood stats. The goal is to identify the median home price in neighborhoods in Tacoma and across Pierce County. While city and county wide stats area easy to find, getting useful information comparing neighborhoods across Tacoma and Pierce County can take a bit more work.

Is it affordable to live in Tacoma and Pierce County in 2022?

Yes and no. One of the biggest reasons that people are moving to Tacoma and Pierce County from out of area is because of how affordable Tacoma is compared to many other west coast cities. Demand for housing in our area has increased exponentially over the past 7 years, and we are simply not keeping up with the demand.

In 2020 home prices in Pierce County increased 15%. In 2021 Pierce County home prices increased again by over 17%. Pierce County is a seller’s market with very little inventory (.32 months supply in January 2022). This has created concerns about affordability in the region. As of 2022 the median home price in Pierce County is $515,000. The average home price is $566,584.

"Affordable" in Tacoma and Pierce County these days means anything under $450,000. All of the neighborhoods featured below fit that description for the time being. To find out why Tacoma is no longer affordable, check out the blog post, "Tacoma isn't affordable anymore. Here's why."

Where are the most affordable neighborhoods in Tacoma?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Tacoma right now tend to be Downtown Tacoma and the surrounding neighborhoods. Though these neighborhoods are also the most competitive. Going into 2022 these are also some of the neighborhoods most likely to see multiple offers.

• Downtown Tacoma - The median home price in Downtown Tacoma right now is about $327,000. This is the median price of Condos in Downtown Tacoma since that is pretty much all there is to buy in the most dense/urban part of the county.
• South Tacoma - Homes in South Tacoma went for $390,000 in 2021, making it one of the most affordable places to buy a single family home in all of Tacoma right now.
• St Helens/Theater District - Again, this neighborhood is mostly home to condos and townhomes. It costs an average of $390,000 to buy a home in this neighborhood (located between Downtown Tacoma and the Stadium District).
• Hillside/UWT - Located between Downtown Tacoma and the Hilltop Neighborhood, Hillside/UWT is made up of townhomes and single family homes. It costs about $395,000 to find a home in this neighborhood.
• Mckinley Hill - Located on Tacoma's Eastside, single family homes in the McKinley Hill neighborhood go for about $395,000.

To learn more about neighborhoods in Tacoma and how much homes cost by neighborhood, check out the TacomaNeighborhoodGuide.com.

Where are the most affordable neighborhoods in Pierce County?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Pierce County tend to be the neighborhoods that require the longest drive for commuters- to places like Tacoma, SeaTac, and Seattle. The most rural locations in Pierce County tend to be the most affordable (hence the term, "drive till you qualify.")

• Elbe/Ashford Area - This area is one of the most remote areas in the county- generally thought of as a place to buy cabins. These days more and more people have moved to the most rural part of Pierce County for peace and quiet and affordability. A single family home in this area costs around $335,000.
• Wilkeson - Homes in the tiny town of Wilkeson cost an average of $375,000. Like Elbe and Ashford the location is rural and mountainous and attractive to folks wanting space, land, an access to adventure.
• Longbranch - Located on the Key Peninsula, homes in Longbranch have an average sales price of $385,000.
• Anderson Island - Homes on Anderson Island require a ride on the ferry to reach. The ferry departs from the town of Steilacoom. Homes on Anderson Island are selling for an average of $396,000.
• Parkland - Located just south of Highway 5-12 near Pacific Lutheran University, single family homes in Parkland are selling for about $399,000.

To learn more about neighborhoods across Pierce County visit PierceCountyNeighborhoodGuide.com.

For more information about buying a house in Pierce County check out these resources:

• The Best Neighborhoods in Pierce County, WA
• The Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Pierce County, WA
• The Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Pierce County, WA
• The Best Cities to Buy a House on Land in Pierce County, WA

Would you like to learn more about how you can move to Tacoma in 2022??

Here are some additional resources for checking out how to move to Tacoma:

How to Buy a House in Tacoma

How to Relocate to?Tacoma

5 Mistakes First Time Buyers Make

How Real Estate Agents Get Paid

Buying a House: From Contract to Keys

I also have this?clickable neighborhood map and neighborhood guide?that includes median home price by neighborhood if you’d like to explore?Tacoma and Pierce County!

Here is a link to the?MoveToTacoma.com Podcast?if you’d like to learn more about Tacoma culture!

Marguerite Martin is a different kind of Tacoma real estate agent.?Check out the?Tacoma Neighborhood Guide?to find answers to questions you have about neighborhoods in Tacoma and Pierce County. When the time is right to start looking, Marguerite can connect you with a local real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you love most.?Click here to contact Marguerite.

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