Tacoma, Washington

Modernenthusiast
2y ago
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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
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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
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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
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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.

15 Things You MUST KNOW Before Moving to Tacoma, WA