98516 and 98503 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
98516
98503
Opportunity
72 · Top 17%
vs69 · Top 22%
Growth
82 · Top 3%
vs82 · Top 3%
Climate
69 · Bottom 46%
vs69 · Bottom 46%
Physical resilience
32 · Bottom 25%
vs32 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
57 · Bottom 19%
vs66 · Bottom 30%
Access
80 · Bottom 21%
vs80 · Bottom 21%
Economic stability
56 · Bottom 43%
vs56 · Bottom 43%
Measured values
| Metric | 98516 | 98503 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,177 | 41,656 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $98,892 | $89,002 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $47,679 | $42,685 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,012/sq mi | 3,760/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $572,500 | $438,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,068 | $1,746 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.6% | 58.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.8% | 0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 32.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 788 | 788 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 13.6 | 13.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 141.0% | 141.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 78°F | 78°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.6" | 50.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 37 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 26.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.65 | 17.10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 48.5% | 50.7% | 2024-25 school 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
98516
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
98503
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 98516 — Lacey, WA · 98503 — Lacey, WA · How this is calculated: methodology