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View of Downtown Tacoma, WA, during Rush Hour

Safe, Affordable Neighborhoods in Tacoma

Thinking about living in Tacoma? With its stunning views, walkable neighborhoods, plenty of outdoor recreation, and mild year-round weather, the City of Destiny is a great place to settle down. Not to mention, Tacoma is one of the best places to live in the Pacific Northwest and offers more affordable housing than neighboring Seattle. If you’re moving to Tacoma, here are five safe, affordable neighborhoods to consider!

Eastside-Enact

Two-story gray home in East-Enact, Tacoma. Photo by Instagram user @homeherollc.

Photo via @homeherollc

  • Home Price: $160,712 median purchase price; $915 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 19% of Washington cities
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families

Eastside-Enact’s affordable housing helps make it one of the best neighborhoods in Tacoma! Alongside recently renovated homes with historic charm, you can find Craftsman and Victorian-style houses, as well as farmhouses and new-construction homes. Those looking for large lots on well-kept yards, a tight-knit community with annual events like the McKinley Hill Street Fair, and proximity to recreation at places like McKinley Park will love this area. In addition, this Tacoma neighborhood has amazing views of the city, Tacoma Dome, and Mount Rainier! Its close proximity to WA-7 makes it the ideal place for anyone looking for a short commute to Downtown Tacoma.

Things to Do in Eastside-Enact

Enjoy a picnic, hike pedestrian trails, or mountain bike at Swan Creek Park. Hop on the 4.3-mile Pipeline Trail that runs through Eastside Tacoma. See your favorite artists like Harry Styles, My Chemical Romance, Snoop Dogg, and Celine Dion at Tacoma Dome. Shop for plants to landscape your yard at the local Portland Avenue Nursery. Order the Buddha Delight or Peanut Sauce Noodles when you visit @ Thai Restaurant. Have Prawn Tempura Meal, Tofu-Soba, or Gyoza at Yummy Pho & Teriyaki. Go to Garden’s Gourmet Salads for healthy eats like a Washington Apple Salad or Teriyaki Bowl. Or try Carne Asada Con Camarones or Mojarra Frita from Los Tamales Restaurant.

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Fircrest

  • Home Price: $282,400 median purchase price; $1,167 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 66% of Washington cities
  • Perfect For: Families, retirees

One of Tacoma’s best suburbs, Fircrest offers a small-town feel within an urban area. The expansive presence of Mid-Century Modern homes—as well as cottages, Cape Cods, and Craftsmans—keep that small-town ’50s and ’60s feel alive. Plus, the neighborhood thrives on its strong sense of community, especially with its newly built community center and local events like Fircrest Grad Celebration and Community Yard Sale, Youth Nights. And although coffee shops, cafes, stores, and more line the streets, other jobs and activities are never too far away, as Fircrest is located right off WA-16! These are just a few of the reasons why Fircrest is called the Jewel of Pierce County!

Things to Do in Fircrest

Become a member of the Fircrest Golf Club for access to high-end amenities like an outdoor pool, fitness center, practice facilities, and more. Learn a new skill with guided fly fishing at South Sound Skiffs. Enroll the kids in summer camp, watch roller derby, or roll around the rink at Skateworld Tacoma. Spend summers swimming in the pool at Fircrest Community Center. Savor a Fircrest Club while you enjoy a Flavored Latte or Americano at Espress-O-Yourself. Get your fix of fresh specialties like Cafe Tortellini, Tiger Prawn Quesadilla, or The Gobbler Sandwich at Spring Lake Cafe. Feast on Sammy’s Combo, Garlic Chicken, or Smokin’ Sweet BBQ Chicken pizza at Sammy’s Pizza. Sample classic Thai dishes like Sauteed Basil Curry, Pad Thai, or Pud-Pong Karee at Royal Thai Bistro. Or devour delicious Hawaiian cuisines like Spam Musubi, Onigiri Tuna, or a Spicy Poke Pop Bowl at Poke Pop.

North End

Two-story Craftsman home with Tudor influences in North End, Tacoma. Photo by Instagram user @kyleehill.

Photo via @kyleehill

  • Home Price: $331,293 median purchase price; $939 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 68% of Washington cities
  • Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals, families, retirees

With waterfront parks, quaint storefronts, and tree-lined cobblestone roads, North End offers a relaxing and beautiful place to live in Tacoma. Located adjacent to Commencement Bay, houses in the area offer breathtaking views of Puget Sound, Vashon Island, and Browns Point. This neighborhood is home to areas like Old Town Tacoma and Proctor District—each with historic landmark homes, Victorian houses, Tudors, and condos. It’s also home to the University of Puget Sound and offers students lots of fun activities to do in the area! Bordered by the business district on 6th Ave, this Tacoma neighborhood has great shops, restaurants, and plenty of things to do.

Things to Do in North End

Visit Puget Creek Natural Area for access to the Puget Creek Trail, Procter Street Trail, playground, and fishing at one of Tacoma’s three salmon-bearing streams. Spend Saturdays shopping for local plants, produce, baked goods, and more at Proctor Farmers’ Market. Join a summer bowling league at Chalet Bowl. Catch the latest movie release at Blue Mouse Theatre or watch a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Start your morning with a Cold Brew, Latte, or Chai at Bluebeard Coffee Roasters. Enjoy gourmet sandwiches like Rick’s Dip, Key West Cubano, or 26th Street Rueben at Rosewood Cafe. Head to Northern Fish in Old Town for your choice of Fish & Chips right on the water. Order a Cheeseburger, Hot Dog, or Chickenwich at retro 1950s burger joint Frisko Freeze. Or enjoy a Jumbo Smitty, Steak-n-Bacon, or a Double Classic Burger at Tacoma’s Shake Shake Shake.

Northeast Tacoma

Executive house in Northeast Tacoma. Photo by Instagram user @mbzphotos_pnw.

Photo via @mbzphotos_pnw

  • Home Price: $307,282 median purchase price; $1,471 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of Washington cities
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Need some distance from the bustle of downtown? Located about 15 minutes from Downtown Tacoma is Northeast Tacoma, one of the safest neighborhoods in the city! Overseen by the Northeast Tacoma Neighborhood Council, this area has a strong sense of community. And although it has a variety of bars, coffee shops, and parks, Northeast Tacoma is known for its dense suburban feel. Schools such as Northeast Tacoma Elementary, Browns Point Elementary, Crescent Heights Elementary, and more are within walking distance of Neocolonial and Craftsman-style homes in quiet cul-de-sacs and winding roads. Many homes offer a view of Commencement Bay, Port of Tacoma, and Downtown Tacoma’s skyline.

Things to Do in Northeast Tacoma

Head to the beach for a picnic at Browns Point Lighthouse Park. Set out on a hike, go saltwater fishing, or hit the water in a kayak at Dash Point State Park. Grab your clubs for a challenging but scenic 18 holes at North Shore Golf Course. Visit the Center at Norpoint, which has a playground, splash pad, pool, fitness classes like Barre and Senior Power, and summer camps for kids. Become a member of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Tacoma (CYCT) and sail around South Puget Sound. Chow down on Chicken Fried Steak, Greek Scramble, or Golden French Toast for a hearty breakfast at Browns Point Diner. Try a fusion of European and Latin American food with dishes like Aleppo Ahi Tuna, Pollo Rostizado, and Lamb Shank at Pimienta Bistro & Bar. Get your seafood fix when you order Maine Lobster Tail, a Clam Chowder Sourdough Bread Bowl, or Prawns & Scallops at The Cliff House Tacoma. Or savor delicious Middle Eastern dishes like the Gyro, Falafel Plate, or Lamb Chops at Mediterranean Gyro Grill.

West End

An orange craftsman-style home is pictured in Tacoma, WA. Photo by Instagram user @jenny.wetzel.

Photo via @jenny.wetzel

  • Home Price: $276,111 median purchase price; $1,003 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 35% of Washington cities
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Looking to move to Tacoma for a safe neighborhood with lots of things to do? Look no further than West End, one of the largest and best neighborhoods in Tacoma! With quick access to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, West End offers a blend of urban and suburban living. There are a handful of great retirement communities in Tacoma like Solstice Senior Living at Point Defiance or Franke Tobey Jones, in addition to affordable, character-filled Bungalows near parks and things to do. The other nice thing about West End is the convenient WA-163 that runs through the center of this Tacoma neighborhood to provide quick and easy access to many shops and jobs. On either side of the highway is tons of green space for residents, making it the perfect neighborhood for people who love outdoor recreation. In fact, the largest green space in Tacoma and a gem of West End is Point Defiance Park, where you’ll find sprawling trails, colorful gardens, lush fields, and a picturesque beach.

Things to Do in West End

Explore nearby hiking trails, kayak in Puget Sound, or relax on Owen Beach. Practice your serve on the tennis courts or shoot hoops at Titlow Park. Pick up a unique skill like tin-smithing with a workshop at the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Pet goats, meet a Sumatran tiger, find an arctic fox, and more during an adventure-filled trip to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium! Fuel up for the day with a Coconut Macchiato, Fire Flower Honey Latte, or White Mocha from Coffeezaun Espresso. Grab an order of Cooper’s Belgian Waffles, Lobster Roll, or Jimmy’s Famous Biscuits N Gravy for a weekend brunch at Cooper’s Food & Drink. Share a plate of Gnocchi, Pollo Piccata, or Alfredo Macaluso during a date night at the upscale Macaluso’s Italian Restaurant. Or get your friends together and share an order of Bangers N’ Mash or a Pepperoni Flatbread for Happy Hour at Oddfellas Pub & Eatery Tacoma!

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Neighborhood and suburb statistics from AreaVibes