Tacoma offers Puget Sound without the cost and the hassle of bigger city options like Seattle or Vancouver. The Puget Sound area has the nicest summers in the country. Mild winters and warm, but not humid, summers, when it stays light until after 10 PM, make this the place people wish they were in the summertime.


Puget Sound

LookyLOO Review of Tacoma

The North and West End and Ruston have long been considered the “good” neighborhoods. They are considered safer, and real estate prices reflect that perception. There are older homes located in the North End of Tacoma with historic architectural styles. Housing gets less expensive (and less nice) as you move south. Northeast Tacoma has a lot of spacious homes and is a good place for families, with quite a few schools in the area. Many of these homes are located in housing developments and are fairly new. West End is similar, and it’s near a small zoo and aquarium. 

Tacoma has been changing, and once no-go areas are becoming safer and more sought after (Hillside and Hilltop have great views), but in the meantime, people like University Place (West Tacoma)  Investors are looking at anywhere the light rail will be going, so south end properties and neighborhoods around the Tacoma Mall (previously considered unsafe) are gentrifying. The lack of affordable housing for young professionals and service workers in Seattle has caused a big influx into Tacoma, which will change the dynamic in downtown Tacoma, where workers can hop on the bus or train and head to work in Seattle.

Eatonville is a good value. Small town nice schools, great community.

We highly recommend visiting Tacoma and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Lifestyle

It’s the Pacific Northwest with a cost of living that’s much lower than Seattle. 


Pacific Northwest on kind of a Budget

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**Modernenthusiast**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Why do I love Tacoma?

Parks! We have a lot parks in the greater Tacoma area and Metro Parks is well-funded. Just visit our flagship park, Pt. Defiance to see how they connected it to a long trail that follows the waterfront. You might see whales out there!

Access to the great outdoors! You can find all sorts of outdoor adventures nearby that fit your budget from hiking, fly-fishing, skating, biking, sailing, you name it! You might even make new friends!

Farmer's Markets! Tacoma is near working farms and you benefit! You can find one usually in your neighborhood on most summer weekends.

Diversity! We have people from all over who want to live here and that means there are opportunities for robust community involvement and engagement. We have a ways to go and you can be part of the solution!

Generally temperate weather! You don't find the extremes here (usually) and you can celebrate each season. Proximity to other good places! Want to get away for a break? So many places nearby including the ocean!

Tacoma has a gritty reputation (and we like that!). It has its issues (affordability, lack of affordable housing, crime) but overall, I'm happy here!


For more reviews of what living in Tacoma is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/tacoma/reviews)

Reviews of Tacoma from Locals

**The Best Thing About Tacoma?** 

Puget Sound without the cost and the hassle. The Puget Sound area has the nicest summers in the country. Mild winters and warm, but not-humid, summers when it stays light until after 10PM make this the place people wish they were in the summertime.


**The Worst Thing About Tacoma?** 

Traffic on I-5 from Seattle in any direction is among the nation’s most challenging. Expect 90 minutes at least if you are going in and out of Seattle during peak times. The only real commonality with Seattle is the geography and the weather.

**How You Living?** 

In the North End. The North and West End and Ruston have long been considered the “good” neighborhoods. They are considered safer and real estate prices reflect that perception. There are older homes located in the North End of Tacoma with historic architecture styles. Housing gets less expensive (and less nice) as you move south. Northeast Tacoma has a lot of spacious homes and is a good place for families with quite a few schools in the area. Many of these homes are located in housing developments, and are fairly new. West End is similar and it’s near a small zoo and aquarium. 

Tacoma has been changing and areas that were once no-go are becoming safer and more sought after (Hillside and Hilltop have great views) but in the meantime, people like University Place (West Tacoma)  Investors are looking at anywhere the light rail will be going, so south end properties and neighborhoods around the Tacoma Mall (previously considered unsafe) are gentrifying. The lack of affordable housing for young professionals and service workers in Seattle has caused a big influx into Tacoma so that will change the dynamic in downtown Tacoma where workers can hop on the bus or train and head to work in Seattle.

Eatonville is a good value. Small town, nice schools, great community.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

It’s the Pacific Northwest with a cost of living that’s much lower than Seattle. 


Young Professionals have a lot of options for areas to live in Tacoma. Downtown is ground zero due to the density of housing options: townhomes, lofts, condos and apartments are plentiful. Sitting astride all these residential buildings are plenty of restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Another nice perk to Tacoma’s Downtown neighborhood are Wright Park and Fireman’s Park. Both offering green space for a run and views of the city. Central is a decent alternative to Downtown, just five minutes away, but it also has its own interesting restaurant options, entertainment, and nightlife in the next door 6th avenue business district. This neighborhood also houses plenty of the areas tech business and tons of healthcare companies for walkable work-life options. 
- Downtown
- Central


Young Professionals

Downtown

North End is an interesting option for singles and couples who are ready to not live Downtown or in a dense business and commercial district. This neighborhood has amazing waterfront views of Commencement Bay, tons of park and green spaces for play, and cool bungalows and Craftsmen homes for living options. You’re also near the University of Puget Sound so the area has enough bars and restaurants to keep you happy when you’re in the mood for a night out. 
- North End


DINKs/SINKs

North End

Tacoma is so LGBTQ+ friendly that in 2012 it was voted the “Gayest City in America”. Although there isn’t a singular LGBTQ+ neighborhood here, Hilltop is a strong neighborhood choice for those looking for a friendly, diverse neighborhood with a cool cultural scene. Great ethnic food, funky bars, plenty of cafes, and live music and arts venues make it ideal for anyone looking for a vibrant supportive neighborhood. https://www.autostraddle.com/queer-girl-city-guide-tacoma-washington-151404/
- Hilltop
- 6th Avenue
- Stadium District


LGBTQ+

Hilltop

North Tacoma is home to some of the city's oldest and most family-friendly neighborhoods. Stadium District is a really interesting place to start. Called that because of the castle-like Stadium high School that sits perched over the city. The District has beautiful Victorian, Tudor and Colonial homes, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood also has the incredible Wright Park, 27 acres of play space for grownups and the kiddos. Top all of that off with some of the funkiest boutique shops, ice cream and shake stores, cool bookstores, comic shops, and eclectic dining choices. 
- Stadium District
- Ruston
- Old Town
- Proctor District


Families

Stadium District

Tacoma

**Modernenthusiast**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Why do I love Tacoma?

Parks! We have a lot parks in the greater Tacoma area and Metro Parks is well-funded. Just visit our flagship park, Pt. Defiance to see how they connected it to a long trail that follows the waterfront. You might see whales out there!

Access to the great outdoors! You can find all sorts of outdoor adventures nearby that fit your budget from hiking, fly-fishing, skating, biking, sailing, you name it! You might even make new friends!

Farmer's Markets! Tacoma is near working farms and you benefit! You can find one usually in your neighborhood on most summer weekends.

Diversity! We have people from all over who want to live here and that means there are opportunities for robust community involvement and engagement. We have a ways to go and you can be part of the solution!

Generally temperate weather! You don't find the extremes here (usually) and you can celebrate each season. Proximity to other good places! Want to get away for a break? So many places nearby including the ocean!

Tacoma has a gritty reputation (and we like that!). It has it's issues (affordability, lack of affordable housing, crime) but overall, I'm happy here!

**frododog**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

South End
Howdy, my husband and I relocated from Kansas City to the PNW in 2016, to Tacoma in 2018. We love it here, and I particularly like Tacoma. We spent the first couple of years out here in SW WA which I did not like as much, although it's breathtakingly beautiful along the Columbia River Gorge.

Good things about Tacoma:

Location: on the beautiful Salish Sea, gorgeous parks, a short drive to Mt. Tahoma (aka Rainier). The mountain looms over Tacoma like a spirit, I love that mountain. 2 hrs drive to the ocean/Olympic peninsula for weekend getaways clamming or watching the waves.

Small-city easy living. Tacoma is fairly urban but has some of the small-city qualities of the KC metro area towns. It's sort of like living in Fairway or Shawnee/Mission, or maybe Brookside/Waldo, depending on where you live. It's not as spread out, and overall the Tacoma metro area is quite a bit smaller in population. I consider Tacoma metro to be North Tacoma (Fairway, Mission Hills, Brookside, Union Hill/Volker, River Market) Ruston (lol, it's a city but really a neighborhood, pricey and a brownfield site with views of the sound), NE Tacoma (think Gladstone), Fife (Independence), South/South End Tacoma (North Overland Park, Shawnee, Merriam/Roeland Park), University Place/Fircrest (think Leawood), Parkland/Midland/Spanaway (sorta like Belton, South Overland Park, maybe Olathe), Lakewood (Lenexa). Puyallup is more like Lee's Summit or Gardener, more of a separated white-flight suburb. By small city living I mean there is no traffic, mostly single-family zoning everywhere, very neighborhoody feel, a few big shopping districts and some neighborhood dining/shopping but not everywhere is very walkable. The city has a tax-funded theater district and a large venue (Tacoma Dome), and loads of great acts, plays etc come to Tacoma. Here is a link to a real estate website listing the neighborhoods and towns in and around the Tacoma/Pierce County metro area: https://movetotacoma.com/complete-list-of-cities-and-neighborhoods-in-pierce-county-washington/

**Marlowe_Cayce**
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

Hilltop
School and my kid. College is pretty accessible here, and it is easy to find work. For my kid, he is multiracial, and there are so many bi and multiracial kids in Tacoma he doesn't stand out, and has a good social circle.

I have been thinking about leaving for a while though. People are kind and I like being so close to nature, but. This is not my home and I moved here for someone else who passed away. It is however my child's home, and he needs consistency, so I will not be moving until he is older.

**TacomaBiker28**
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

North End
Tacoma is the longest I’ve lived in one place for my 67 years. I too moved back here from Connecticut. I’m retired now (since end of 2019). Why here still? Climate, outdoor activities, no need to drive anywhere ( I even go to Costco with my cargo trailer). SeaTac airport is one of best in USA ( I used to travel 75-100 days a year for work). We can get almost anywhere domestically or internationally nonstop. Tacoma is also greatly improved since we moved back here in 2010. Great restaurants, wine bars, great restaurants, great record store etc. And, some may laugh, but our property taxes are reasonable (they’re 1\2 of what we paid in CT, which also has an income tax and a sales tax). I worked out of my house the last ten years I was employed so no need to drive on the freeway during “rush hour” either. We’ve also made lots of friends. It’s very easy to talk with people here.

Tacoma, Washington

Grit City

Looklyloo Score: 90