98404 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
98409
98404
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 21%
vs43 · Bottom 25%
Growth
71 · Top 13%
vs71 · Top 13%
Climate
74 · Top 37%
vs74 · Top 37%
Physical resilience
32 · Bottom 26%
vs32 · Bottom 26%
Housing affordability
55 · Bottom 21%
vs69 · Bottom 41%
Access
89 · Bottom 31%
vs90 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
62 · Top 46%
vs61 · Top 49%
Measured values
| Metric | 98409 | 98404 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,843 | 35,961 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,348 | $82,191 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,831 | $33,598 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,899/sq mi | 5,094/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $394,500 | $413,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,645 | $1,483 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 44.4% | 68.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 21.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 14.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,267 | 1,267 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 5.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 155.4% | 155.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 76°F | 76°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.0" | 42.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 34.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 35.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
98409
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
98404
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 98409 — Tacoma, WA · 98404 — Tacoma, WA · How this is calculated: methodology