Washington · GEOID 53053

Pierce County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 930,319 · 369,709 housing units

Median household income

$99,564

State $101,109

Median home value

$526,600

State $596,829

Median gross rent

$1,806

State $1,761

Homeownership rate

64.7%

State 63.8%

Renter cost-burden rate

53.0%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

26.4%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.5%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

5.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

5.29

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Pierce County	Washington
Population	930,319	7,816,116
Population density (per sq. mi.)	557.74	—
Median household income	$99,564	$101,109
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$127,300	—
Households	351,330	—
Average household size	2.59 people	—
Owner-occupied	64.7%	63.8%
Renter-occupied	35.3%	36.2%
Race	64.0% White · 7.4% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Pierce County compared with Washington.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

30.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 39.6%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	12.9%	$67,675	$1,692	$220,890
1 earner	32.4%	$83,496	$2,087	$279,781
2 earners	42.6%	$138,961	$3,474	$486,240
3+ earners	12.1%	$180,618	$4,515	$641,302

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

351,330

Average size: 2.59 people

Households with children

104,944

29.9% of households

Per-capita income

$47,648

Poverty rate: 8.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

64.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 63.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 70.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 16.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

42.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,986.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $526,600.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,806.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 18,379 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 6.6% · For rent 28.8% · Seasonal 18.4% · Other 33.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

47.9% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 52.1% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.9%

3,383 units of 369,709 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

1.7%

6,192 units of 369,709 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$79,651

100% MHI$99,564

120% MHI$119,477

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Pierce County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$71,300	$81,500	$101,850
100% AMI	$89,110	$101,840	$127,300
120% AMI	$106,950	$122,200	$152,750

HUD FMR Area: Tacoma, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

53.0% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (24.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

26.4% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Pierce County.

Covered employment

306,985

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

20,819

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$70,084

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	63,955	$76,575	$254,019	−$272,581	$1,914
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	36,785	$48,584	$149,827	−$376,773	$1,215
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	29,610	$31,103	$84,756	−$441,844	$778
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	24,348	$62,845	$202,911	−$323,689	$1,571
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	23,993	$83,053	$278,132	−$248,468	$2,076
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	21,414	$70,164	$230,155	−$296,445	$1,754
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	20,280	$100,908	$344,594	−$182,006	$2,523
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	16,420	$77,759	$258,426	−$268,174	$1,944
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	13,379	$93,592	$317,362	−$209,238	$2,340
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	13,178	$84,712	$284,307	−$242,293	$2,118
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	10,854	$50,793	$158,049	−$368,551	$1,270
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	7,892	$59,990	$192,284	−$334,316	$1,500
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	7,863	$105,055	$360,031	−$166,569	$2,626
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	5,898	$34,598	$97,766	−$428,834	$865
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	5,867	$108,579	$373,148	−$153,452	$2,714
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	2,314	$109,346	$376,003	−$150,597	$2,734
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	1,091	$45,598	$138,712	−$387,888	$1,140
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	907	$92,768	$314,294	−$212,306	$2,319
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	752	$127,860	$444,919	−$81,681	$3,197
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	185	$92,756	$314,250	−$212,350	$2,319

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	28,046	$30,838	$83,770	−$442,830	$771
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	22,265	$61,118	$196,482	−$330,118	$1,528
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	20,423	$105,935	$363,306	−$163,294	$2,648
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	18,804	$92,211	$312,221	−$214,379	$2,305
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	17,363	$34,492	$97,371	−$429,229	$862
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	15,714	$76,747	$254,659	−$271,941	$1,919
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	13,379	$93,592	$317,362	−$209,238	$2,340
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	10,402	$106,938	$367,040	−$159,560	$2,673
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	9,970	$41,301	$122,717	−$403,883	$1,033
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	8,133	$67,638	$220,752	−$305,848	$1,691
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	7,944	$86,453	$290,788	−$235,812	$2,161
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	7,892	$59,990	$192,284	−$334,316	$1,500
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	7,363	$54,462	$171,707	−$354,893	$1,362
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	6,595	$39,991	$117,841	−$408,759	$1,000
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	5,960	$73,940	$244,210	−$282,390	$1,849
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	4,832	$31,866	$87,597	−$439,003	$797
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	4,651	$77,494	$257,439	−$269,161	$1,937
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	4,538	$78,277	$260,354	−$266,246	$1,957
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	4,445	$77,514	$257,514	−$269,086	$1,938
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	4,198	$48,467	$149,391	−$377,209	$1,212
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	3,938	$37,264	$107,690	−$418,910	$932
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	3,909	$42,268	$126,316	−$400,284	$1,057
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	3,907	$74,867	$247,661	−$278,939	$1,872
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	3,887	$82,104	$274,599	−$252,001	$2,053
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	3,741	$115,338	$398,308	−$128,292	$2,883
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	3,626	$66,327	$215,872	−$310,728	$1,658
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	3,486	$100,463	$342,938	−$183,662	$2,512
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	3,302	$96,725	$329,024	−$197,576	$2,418
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	3,196	$48,897	$150,992	−$375,608	$1,222
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	3,004	$101,099	$345,305	−$181,295	$2,527
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	2,930	$91,176	$308,368	−$218,232	$2,279
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	2,926	$44,904	$136,128	−$390,472	$1,123
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	2,819	$125,110	$434,682	−$91,918	$3,128
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	2,306	$82,097	$274,573	−$252,027	$2,052
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	2,083	$81,299	$271,603	−$254,997	$2,032
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,929	$56,601	$179,669	−$346,931	$1,415
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	1,858	$67,028	$218,481	−$308,119	$1,676
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	1,806	$71,966	$236,862	−$289,738	$1,799
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	1,801	$70,473	$231,305	−$295,295	$1,762
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	1,674	$27,699	$72,086	−$454,514	$692
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,662	$52,861	$165,747	−$360,853	$1,322
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	1,586	$83,635	$280,298	−$246,302	$2,091
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,564	$35,855	$102,445	−$424,155	$896
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,406	$60,059	$192,540	−$334,060	$1,501
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	1,304	$73,972	$244,329	−$282,271	$1,849
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	1,193	$230,052	$825,312	+$298,712	$5,751
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	1,041	$63,403	$204,988	−$321,612	$1,585
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	980	$76,140	$252,399	−$274,201	$1,904
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	907	$92,768	$314,294	−$212,306	$2,319
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	894	$170,732	$604,503	+$77,903	$4,268
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	859	$96,517	$328,250	−$198,350	$2,413
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	788	$107,869	$370,506	−$156,094	$2,697
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	771	$90,982	$307,646	−$218,954	$2,275
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	757	$75,727	$250,862	−$275,738	$1,893
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	752	$127,860	$444,919	−$81,681	$3,197
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	655	$89,515	$302,186	−$224,414	$2,238
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	651	$55,010	$173,746	−$352,854	$1,375
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	623	$41,228	$122,445	−$404,155	$1,031
NAICS 324 Petroleum and coal products manufacturing NAICS 324	578	$118,014	$408,269	−$118,331	$2,950
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	547	$61,469	$197,789	−$328,811	$1,537
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	546	$183,294	$651,263	+$124,663	$4,582
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	540	$56,146	$177,975	−$348,625	$1,404
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	526	$37,578	$108,859	−$417,741	$939
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	455	$81,868	$273,721	−$252,879	$2,047
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	433	$60,874	$195,574	−$331,026	$1,522
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	393	$36,099	$103,353	−$423,247	$902
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	391	$83,682	$280,473	−$246,127	$2,092
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	382	$51,237	$159,702	−$366,898	$1,281
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	369	$87,215	$293,624	−$232,976	$2,180
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	266	$44,427	$134,353	−$392,247	$1,111
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	263	$31,273	$85,389	−$441,211	$782
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	185	$130,562	$454,977	−$71,623	$3,264
NAICS 483 Water transportation NAICS 483	165	$93,794	$318,114	−$208,486	$2,345
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	120	$69,480	$227,609	−$298,991	$1,737
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	115	$50,536	$157,093	−$369,507	$1,263
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	103	$83,894	$281,262	−$245,338	$2,097
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	98	$80,487	$268,580	−$258,020	$2,012
NAICS 315 Apparel manufacturing NAICS 315	68	$44,190	$133,471	−$393,129	$1,105
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	27	$135,478	$473,276	−$53,324	$3,387
NAICS 533 Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works) NAICS 533	23	$93,785	$318,080	−$208,520	$2,345
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	13	$85,381	$286,798	−$239,802	$2,135
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	5	$82,306	$275,351	−$251,249	$2,058

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	49,190	3,260	7%	$20.32	$42,260	$126,287	$1,057
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	2,520	(2,070)	(45%)	$21.34	$44,390	$134,215	$1,110
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	30,470	(90)	(0%)	$21.50	$44,720	$135,444	$1,118
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	46,620	(14,770)	(24%)	$21.65	$45,020	$136,560	$1,126
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	26,820	5,310	25%	$23.74	$49,380	$152,790	$1,235
Tellers SOC 43-3071	3,730	(1,020)	(21%)	$25.69	$53,430	$167,865	$1,336
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	16,530	30	0%	$26.55	$55,220	$174,528	$1,381
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	27,460	(2,580)	(9%)	$27.15	$56,470	$179,181	$1,412
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	26,530	(2,630)	(9%)	$30.26	$62,940	$203,265	$1,574
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	17,790	910	5%	$30.84	$64,140	$207,731	$1,604
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	13,040	2,110	19%	$31.24	$64,990	$210,895	$1,625
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	21,230	5,720	37%	$34.61	$71,980	$236,914	$1,800
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	14,970	940	7%	$40.42	$84,060	$281,880	$2,102
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	6,350	520	9%	$46.27	$96,250	$327,256	$2,406
Electricians SOC 47-2111	9,750	1,470	18%	$47.94	$99,720	$340,172	$2,493
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	3,760	(270)	(7%)	$48.30	$100,450	$342,889	$2,511
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	14,560	1,360	10%	—	$102,290	$349,739	$2,557
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	4,520	(100)	(2%)	$55.23	$114,880	$396,603	$2,872
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	750	(610)	(45%)	$56.57	$117,660	$406,951	$2,942
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	39,900	8,980	29%	$60.76	$126,390	$439,447	$3,160

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 53053 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.