Tacoma, WA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Tacoma, WA

Is Tacoma, WA safe to live in?

Tacoma earns an overall city-wide safety rating of B (Safe) based on analysis of 17 neighborhoods. A striking 88% of those neighborhoods carry A or B grades — meaning fewer than 1 in 8 neighborhoods falls below a B. Specifically, 47.1% of neighborhoods (8 out of 17) earned an A grade, including Fircrest, Hayda Park, Browns Point / Northeast Tacoma, Rustin, North Tacoma, and University Place. Another 41.2% earned a B grade, covering areas like Parkland Area, Central Tacoma, West End, and South Tacoma. Only 2 neighborhoods (11.8%) received a C grade — Hilltop and Downtown Tacoma — and notably, zero neighborhoods received a D or F. By comparison, many U.S. cities of similar size see 20–30% of neighborhoods graded D or F, so Tacoma's profile skews meaningfully safer than average.

What is the crime rate in Tacoma compared to its neighborhoods?

Tacoma's overall crime grade is a C at the city level, yet its neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown tells a more nuanced story. The city-wide grade reflects concentrated activity in a small number of areas, while the majority of residents live in zones rated A or B. The highest-crime neighborhoods — Hilltop (C+) and Downtown Tacoma (C+) — pull the city average downward, a pattern common in Pacific Northwest urban centers where downtown corridors see elevated property crime. Meanwhile, the largest neighborhoods by population tell a reassuring story: North Tacoma (pop. 36,157) grades A, University Place (pop. 35,814) grades A, and Parkland Area (pop. 45,911) grades B+. Together those three neighborhoods alone account for roughly 117,000 residents — more than half of Tacoma's 215,766 population — all living in A or B-rated areas.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Tacoma in 2026?

Eight Tacoma neighborhoods earned a top Grade A in 2026. Here is how they break down by population and median household income:

• Fircrest — Grade A | ~6,774 residents | median income $87,661
• Hayda Park — Grade A | ~53 residents | median income $117,438 (highest in the city)
• Browns Point / Northeast Tacoma — Grade A | ~20,504 residents | median income $110,855
• Rustin — Grade A | ~1,011 residents | median income $86,482
• North Tacoma — Grade A | ~36,157 residents | median income $88,964
• University Place — Grade A | ~35,814 residents | median income $85,572
• Midland/Waller/Summit — Grade A- | ~42,896 residents | median income $77,251
• West Slope — Grade A- | ~6,338 residents | median income $89,351

A clear pattern emerges: every Grade A neighborhood carries a median household income above the city median of $64,457, ranging from $77,251 (Midland/Waller/Summit) to $117,438 (Hayda Park). For families prioritizing safety alongside community size, North Tacoma and University Place stand out — both grade A and each home to 35,000+ residents, offering full urban amenities without the crime profile of downtown.

Which neighborhoods in Tacoma have higher crime levels?

Two neighborhoods received a Grade C+ — the lowest grades recorded across all 17 analyzed areas: Hilltop and Downtown Tacoma. Three additional neighborhoods earned Grade B-: South Tacoma and St Helens. West End grades B. It is worth emphasizing that even the lowest-graded neighborhoods in Tacoma top out at C+ — no neighborhood in the city received a D or F. For context, a C+ still indicates moderate rather than severe crime levels. Downtown Tacoma's grade reflects the typical urban-core dynamic where foot traffic, retail density, and transient populations concentrate property crime incidents. Hilltop has historically seen higher violent crime rates relative to other Tacoma neighborhoods, though ongoing community investment has contributed to gradual improvement over recent years.

Is Tacoma a good place to live in 2026?

The data points toward yes for most households. With a population of 215,766, a median home value of $311,343, and a median household income of $64,457, Tacoma offers relative affordability compared to Seattle while sitting on Puget Sound with access to the same regional economy. The unemployment rate of 4.9% is in line with national averages, and the poverty rate of 13.8% — while above the national median — is concentrated in specific corridors rather than spread city-wide. On the safety side, 88% of neighborhoods grade B or better, and the two largest neighborhoods (North Tacoma and University Place, combined population ~72,000) both earn an A. Median rent of $1,253 remains substantially below Seattle-area averages, making Tacoma one of the more cost-effective entry points into the Puget Sound region for renters and first-time buyers alike. The combination of mostly safe neighborhoods, relative affordability, and waterfront access makes Tacoma a genuinely competitive option for families, remote workers, and professionals priced out of neighboring cities.

How do Tacoma's safest and highest-crime neighborhoods compare statistically?

The gap between Tacoma's safest and highest-crime neighborhoods is most visible in income data. The five Grade A neighborhoods with the largest populations — Hayda Park ($117,438), Browns Point / Northeast Tacoma ($110,855), North Tacoma ($88,964), West Slope ($89,351), and Fircrest ($87,661) — all carry median incomes 36% to 82% above the city median of $64,457. By contrast, the two C+-graded neighborhoods (Hilltop and Downtown Tacoma) sit closer to or below the city median. This income-safety correlation is consistent with national research linking economic stability to lower property and violent crime rates. Importantly, even Central Tacoma (Grade B+, income $66,850) and Parkland Area (Grade B+, income $63,071) demonstrate that mid-income neighborhoods can still achieve strong safety grades — suggesting Tacoma's safety profile is not exclusively driven by wealth concentration.