Moving to Tacoma from Seattle
In this article we share why people are moving to Tacoma from Seattle.
While Seattle is famous for Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, Seattle’s southern, less famous neighbor, Tacoma, might be the perfect escape for calmer vibes and more affordable living. Whether you are in the early stages of considering a move from Seattle to Tacoma or have already begun the move, here are three reasons why Tacoma is preferable to Seattle.
Money goes farther in Tacoma
Despite its lesser known reputation as a thriving economy, Tacoma holds its own with a diverse and rich economy. Read more about the job and employment market in Tacoma here. It’s also much less expensive than Seattle, so your wages go farther in Tacoma.
According to Numbeo, consumer prices in Seattle are 14.94% higher than in Tacoma (without rent). Consumer prices including rent in Seattle are 20.61% higher than in Tacoma. Rent prices in Seattle are 30.24% higher than in Tacoma. Restaurant prices in Seattle are 7.89% higher than in Tacoma. Groceries prices in Seattle are 19.20% higher than in Tacoma. As a whole, local purchasing power in Seattle is 6.71% lower than in Tacoma.
Big city amenities in a small town/big city
Tacoma still has coffee! Don’t worry – leaving Seattle does not mean leaving behind Starbucks and plentiful coffee spots (but it does mean leaving behind more traffic and crowd congestion). Tacoma is home to several local coffee roasters like Manifesto Coffee, Valhalla Coffee and Bluebeard Coffee Shop. Read more about Tacoma’s best coffee shops here.
In addition to coffee spots, Tacoma is a cultural hub that offers plenty of indoor and outdoor activities for all seasons. Tacoma Arts Live has three theaters including Tacoma City Ballet, Tacoma Philharmonic, Tacoma Sympathy Orchestra, and Puget Sound Revels. If you want to catch a basketball game or concert, Tacoma Dome is the world’s largest arena with a wooden dome. And don’t miss a minor league baseball game at Cheney Stadium for the Tacoma Rainiers.
Where Seattle’s urban space is dynamic, conversely, Tacoma offers green space galore – a biker and walker’s dream. Check out Point Defiance for 760 acres of Japanese gardens, trails, old-growth forests, a saltwater beach, and bluff overlooks. It also includes a zoo and aquarium. Wright Park is another excellent option for more traditional park amenities like trails, picnic space, and play areas.
Home prices are significantly more affordable in Tacoma
If you haven’t yet heard, Seattle’s home prices have seen some of the highest increases in the country in the past few years. This has prohibited most middle-of-the-road and even high-income earners to buy their dream family homes in Seattle. The average home in Seattle is $814,000. But drive just 30 minutes south to Tacoma, and the average home price drops to just $470,000! That’s nearly a 50% decrease! And keep in mind, homes in Tacoma tend to offer more square footage, outdoor space, and newer construction for a dramatic price cut compared to Seattle.
A move from Seattle to Tacoma provides several benefits including decreased cost of living, robust indoor and outdoor activities, and dramatically more affordable real estate prices.