Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lakewood, WA vs Tacoma, WA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lakewood needs about $87,000 in Tacoma to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Tacoma, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $83,000 in Lakewood.
A few differences
- Tacoma is higher on median household income ($85,884 vs $74,720).
- Lakewood is lower on cost of living index (113 vs 117).
- Lakewood is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,610/mo vs $1,776/mo).
Lakewood vs Tacoma · facet by facet
| Facet | Lakewood, WA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $461,200 | $479,600 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,610/mo | $1,776/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.87% | 0.87% |
| State & local income tax | 0% | 0% |
| Sales tax | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| Cost of living index | 113 | 117 |
| Groceries index | 106 | 106 |
| Utilities | $155/mo | $155/mo |
| Median household income | $74,720 | $85,884 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Crime index | 50/100 | 50/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 155 days | 155 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lakewood, WA · Tacoma, WA
Questions & answers
- Is Lakewood cheaper than Tacoma?
- Lakewood has the lower day-to-day cost index (113 vs 117 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Tacoma equals $85,000 in Lakewood?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lakewood needs about $87,000 in Tacoma to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Tacoma lifestyle costs about $83,000 in Lakewood.