Parkland, WA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Parkland, WA

What is Parkland's overall crime grade?

Parkland, WA currently holds an overall crime grade of C-, indicating that crime levels are meaningfully higher than the national average and above what you'd find in many comparable Washington suburbs. This grade reflects a combination of property and violent crime data tracked across the community. With a population of approximately 37,946 and a population density of 1,695 residents per square mile, Parkland is moderately dense — a factor that can contribute to elevated property crime rates. Residents should treat this C- grade as a prompt to stay informed via the Parkland crime map rather than a reason for alarm, since many households experience no direct crime exposure in a given year.

How does Parkland's poverty rate affect its crime rate?

Parkland's poverty rate of 15.5% and unemployment rate of 7.4% are both notably higher than Washington State averages, and research consistently links economic stress to elevated property crime. With a median household income of $56,838 — below the statewide median — and a median home value of $250,464, many residents are working-class households where financial pressure is real. These socioeconomic indicators help explain why Parkland's crime grade sits at a C- rather than a B or higher. Areas closer to commercial corridors and transit hubs, such as those near Pacific Avenue, tend to see higher incident concentrations, while more residential pockets further from those corridors generally report fewer incidents on the crime map.

What types of crime are most common in Parkland?

Property crime is the dominant category in Parkland, consistent with its C- overall grade. Theft-related offenses — including vehicle break-ins, shoplifting near commercial zones, and residential burglary — account for the largest share of reported incidents. Violent crime, while present, represents a smaller percentage of total incidents but is not negligible given the city's economic profile. Substance-related offenses also appear regularly in crime map data, particularly in higher-density corridors. Neighborhoods near Spanaway and Frederickson, which sit on Parkland's edges, tend to show lower incident densities compared to areas closer to the Pacific Avenue commercial strip, where property crime clusters are more visible on heat-map views.

Is Parkland, WA a safe place to live?

Parkland is a livable community, but prospective residents should go in with realistic expectations given its C- crime grade. The median rent of $1,199 and median home value of $250,464 make it one of the more affordable communities in the greater Tacoma area, which draws families and young professionals despite the safety trade-offs. Safety outcomes vary significantly by neighborhood: residential areas with active neighborhood watch programs and lower population density consistently show fewer incidents on the Parkland crime map than denser commercial zones. If affordability is a priority, Parkland can be a solid choice — provided you research specific blocks, review current crime map data regularly, and take standard precautions like securing vehicles and participating in community safety programs.

Which parts of Parkland have lower crime rates?

While Parkland's overall grade is a C-, crime is not evenly distributed across its roughly 22 square miles. Incident data on the crime map consistently shows that areas bordering Spanaway to the south and Frederickson to the southeast tend to report lower incident densities, benefiting from a more suburban layout and lower foot traffic. Neighborhoods further from the Pacific Avenue corridor — Parkland's primary commercial spine — also tend to see fewer property crime incidents. Conversely, blocks immediately adjacent to major retail clusters and transit stops along Pacific Avenue show higher concentrations of theft and disturbance calls. Filtering the crime map by incident type and time period is the most reliable way to compare specific neighborhoods before making a housing decision.

How does Parkland's crime rate compare to nearby cities?

Parkland's C- crime grade places it below the safety performance of many Puget Sound suburbs but in a similar range to parts of Tacoma and Lakewood, which share comparable socioeconomic profiles. Cities with lower poverty rates and higher median incomes in Pierce County tend to earn B or A grades, reflecting the strong correlation between economic health and crime rates. Parkland's 15.5% poverty rate and 7.4% unemployment rate are higher than Pierce County averages, which pulls its grade down relative to wealthier neighbors. That said, Parkland is not among the highest-crime communities in Washington — its C- reflects an elevated but not extreme risk level, and many residents report feeling comfortable in their day-to-day lives when they stay informed through tools like the Parkland crime map.