Is Tacoma cheaper than Seattle?

Yes. Typical rent in Tacoma is $1,676 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 17% cheaper. Median household income is $85,884 in Tacoma compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Tacoma or Seattle?

Tacoma is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 116 in Seattle — 72% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Tacoma or Seattle?

Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Tacoma — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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City comparison

Tacoma, WA vs Seattle, WA

Tacoma, WA versus Seattle, WA is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,676 a month in Tacoma and $2,030 in Seattle, and median household income lands at $85,884 versus $123,860. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Tacoma takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Seattle takes job market and schools. The widest gap is crime index, where Tacoma leads by 72% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Tacoma can feel further apart than Tacoma and Seattle do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Tacoma and Seattle reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Tacoma report Full Seattle report

Tacoma, WA

Rent: $1,676/mo
Median income: $85,884
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 67°F

Seattle, WA

Rent: $2,030/mo
Median income: $123,860
Crime index: 116
Schools: A
Weather: 66°F

Rent

17% cheaper

Tacoma rent is 17% cheaper than Seattle

Tacoma

Winner

$1,676/mo

Seattle

$2,030/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,676 a month in Tacoma versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Tacoma is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,248 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Tacoma still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Seattle.

Median income

44% higher

Seattle's median income is 44% higher than Tacoma

Tacoma

$85,884

Seattle

Winner

$123,860

What this means for your life

Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $85,884 in Tacoma, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Seattle — about $37,976 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. Tacoma can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

72% lower crime

Tacoma's crime index is 72% lower than Seattle

Tacoma

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Seattle

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Tacoma's crime index is 32 versus 116 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% lower in Tacoma. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Tacoma is the easier city. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

5% higher scores

Seattle's school scores are 5% higher than Tacoma

Tacoma

A- · 84/100

Seattle

Winner

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

Seattle grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Tacoma — school scores run 5% higher in Seattle. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Tacoma is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

3% more comfortable

Tacoma weather is 3% more comfortable than Seattle

Tacoma

Winner

67°F typical

Seattle

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Tacoma scores 3% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 67°F in Tacoma and 66°F in Seattle. Tacoma reads as mild, livable temperatures; Seattle reads as mild, livable temperatures. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Seattle's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Tacoma is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Tacoma

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Tacoma is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,676 a month. Choose Tacoma if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Tacoma if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 3%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Tacoma is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Tacoma is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 72% lower than Seattle (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Tacoma report →

Fit check

Who should choose Seattle

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 44% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Parents — or anyone planning kids in the next few years — should weight Seattle first. School scores run 5% higher (A vs A-). Tacoma only wins the school argument if you already have a specific campus in mind that beats this composite.

Open the Seattle report →

Bottom line

Tacoma vs Seattle, called

If safety is your priority, Tacoma is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Seattle pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Tacoma offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Tacoma vs Seattle FAQ

Is Tacoma cheaper than Seattle?: Yes. Typical rent in Tacoma is $1,676 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 17% cheaper. Median household income is $85,884 in Tacoma compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Tacoma or Seattle?: Tacoma is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 116 in Seattle — 72% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Tacoma or Seattle?: Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Tacoma — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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