r/AskTacoma

Potentially selling my Tacoma home later this year and curious who today’s buyers actually are.

Are most buyers:
Moving from Seattle/Eastside for affordability?
Local to Tacoma/Pierce County?
Out-of-state transplants?
First-time buyers?

If you bought recently, what made you choose Tacoma, and what neighborhoods or features mattered most?

Also curious whether Seattle spillover demand is still strong or if things have cooled off.

Would love to hear from recent buyers or anyone watching the market closely.

Family of 3 looking to move on from Utah after 10 years. We are liberal ex Mormons (both 29 yo) with a 1yo baby. Husband is software engineer, I’m SAHM with a home business. We love nature and basically spend all our vacation time visiting national parks.

We love the mountains and parks of Utah but we’ve explored them pretty well at this point. We’ve also enjoyed how family friendly (amazing city parks, active libraries etc) it is here. Those are two primary things we’re looking to find in our next home.

I’d love to hear how you feel about Tacoma from:

1. anyone who works in tech IN Tacoma (is that even a thing? Does everyone commute to Seattle or work remote?)

2. young families with babies

Thank you in advance!

I have a job offer and am considering relocating to Washington state. I haven’t heard the best things about schools… which is concerning for my 6 year old non speaking son. I’m attracted to Tacoma for the diversity and reasonable cost of living. Are there any specific elementary schools you would recommend that have good autism support? Follow IEPs well? Self contained classes? Speech and OT?

im going to sell my house in bellevue and move down to pierce county because we have lost too much money in bitcoin. what area is the best?

Recently moved to Buckley (i know far i'm a travel nurse) and looking to play some sandvolleyball pick ups, i'm willing to drive about an hour for pick ups, but league games are kinda outta my realm cause flipping schedules. Any leads would love!

Hi!

Moving to town from a place that basically has zero restrictions on anything. Every place we've looked at is 100 years old and has a fireplace inside and the last owners had a backyard firepit. I was excited to finally live somewhere again where I could have my own fireplace but then started seeing rules and laws about smoke.

Every law I saw mentioned wood STOVES and not fireplaces. The only info I could find was saying you can't use your fireplace during a burn ban, which I'm assuming means indoor and outdoor fireplaces or firepits.

It seems like there is a distinction between older stoves and that those rules don't apply to normal fireplaces in a house.

Just wanted to get some input on if we buy a house with a fireplace or a nice area to have a backyard BBQ and fire, will we have a swat team arrive and carry us away 😂

I never try to be adherently desperate and am honestly stubborn when it comes to asking for help. But here I am asking any Current Teachers, Current Formerly Teachers, or know any of those categories of Teachers! I am moving from out of state (WI) and I have the temporary license needed for Washington, one year of teaching under my belt, and really good references. The one thing I’m struggling on is getting my foot in the door somewhere, I’ve applied to probably any position in education for about every school district in a radius of Tacoma. But I’ve had little luck and very few interviews. I guess I’m asking if ANYONE has a connection or even a notion of how to handle getting a teaching job in or even around Tacoma (like 45min-1 hour radius). I’m a grade teacher at heart for elementary but would take anything when it comes down to it, please someone help! LMK if you have any questions and feel free to DM.

Hi! My partner and I are moving to Tacoma for my new job at St Joseph - we have no idea where to look for places to live and don’t know where to start. Between the two of us we have lived in Boston, Alaska, Japan and the Bay Area besides both growing up in the PNW, but we are out of the loop now so would love advice on where to look.

We have a dog and would love parks nearby or a place with a yard. I would like to be close to St Joseph for work and preferably also public transport too. It would be incredible to be somewhere were we could walk to coffee or shops and restaurants (no idea if this is possible). We are both pretty community oriented and love to spend time in third spaces or outdoors with friends.

My SIL has said there’s houses in Ruston for 2k a month, is that a good area and is that reasonable rent (it doesn’t seem so in my mind, but I’m currently in a college town paying 1.3k for a tiny one bedroom apartment)?

People also say Tacoma is unsafe - is that true or just the fears of folks? I‘ve walked the tenderloin in SF at night for jazz clubs and also have run to my truck to avoid moose in Alaska so I’m not sure what safety standards are 😅

Thanks so much!

Coming to Tacoma this weekend for the Banana ball game at Cheney Stadium. My wife is gluten free what is everyone’s hidden gem restaurants bonus points if they have gluten free options lol.

Hi, I’m a (30yr old) first time expecting mother who is trying to figure out where in Tacoma to establish care. So far, I’ve tried scheduling with several providers I was interested in but they are either booked out for my due date, or there is no guarantee they will stay as my provider throughout the rest of my pregnancy and on day of delivery, which is understandable but this also relates to prenatal care. Other issues I’ve run into is that the midwives I’ve reached out to don’t have hospital privileges. I’m about 8 weeks and I’m trying to establish care soon. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

As title says. My wife wants one, and I'd like to give her one for her birthday. I can't seem to find one. I've found Japanese but not Korean.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Anybody have a favourite place for stuffed crust pizza in Tacoma?

I feel like the past few chain places I’ve tried over the years (Dominos, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut etc) have fallen prey to the same enshittification as every other franchise and started putting some weird cheese substitute in their crusts that ends up like some gluey cheese sauce rather than having that toothsome low moisture mozzarella bite.

Anybody have a favourite place for this in the area or on the way back from Seattle?

Hey, I'm new to Tacoma. Just hit a month.

I beat a 7 year battle with cancer that put 120lbs on me so I'm working hard to get out, get active, wash 39 years of Texas off me, and meet people. (Genuinely just meet people, not interested in dating)

Was hoping there were any pickleball or Tennis groups here. I'm new to both but have always enjoyed them. (Played tennis in HS but was never that great).

I found a few clubs but they charge a lot for memberships that don't really include much beyond just being able to rent courts. I've googled groups but haven't really found anything.

I'm not hyper competitive, but I want to play, and learn. Was hoping anyone knew of groups of players that played on the weekend that would be open to a new player.

If not, I understand, just wanted to ask.

Thanks

hey all idk if this will fair well with the local community, but I’m desperate so here it goesssss:

I lived in tacoma for a few years 2015-2019, they were some of the greatest years of my life and I was very happy there, however I had to go back to my hometown in California due to an emergency. I ended up in a domestically violent relationship and I am looking to flee. I’ve tried to flee three times already this year and every DV shelter in my entire county has been at capacity every time I’ve tried. they don’t have waitlists, they are all first come first serve. I do have very young children so I am looking for dv shelters, not homeless shelters or places where my children will be unsafe.

it’s not looking like I have any options and the county I reside in has actually ended their entire section 8 program, the 211 representative said they aren’t even accepting waitlist applications and the program was thoroughly ended. my neighboring counties are just as full (and less safe).

i’ve started to wonder if I would be able to find resources/help back in tacoma. my situation is physically violent and getting worse, so I am starting to get desperate, but don’t want to put my kids in an unsafe situation. I know states don’t want other states homeless people, but I’m really hoping & wondering if tacoma could give me a safe landing space and an opportunity to start a safe life with my kids?

anyone happen to have any advice for someone in this situation? I no longer have no friends or family where I reside, but I do have a few friends in tacoma with kids who would be able to help me with my kids a little so I can work, but I don’t think they can take me and the kids in so that is it’s own issue.

eta: does anyone have any resources for any reputable DV shelters in tacoma? I’m anxious to go to just any one bc I have young kids and people take advantage of others in vulnerable situations, but does anyone know one that is known to be safe?

Hi everyone! I recently graduated from PLU with a degree in Choral Music Education and am currently looking for full-time secondary music/choir or performing arts opportunities in the South Sound area for the 2026–27 school year.

I’m especially interested in middle/high school choir, musical theatre collaboration, and culturally responsive music education. I’ve been watching district postings (Federal Way, Tacoma, Bethel, Franklin Pierce, etc.), but I figured I’d ask here in case anyone knows of openings, upcoming retirements, or districts/schools with strong arts programs worth keeping an eye on.

Would really appreciate any insight or connections. Thank you!

hi! does anyone know of any good local beginner strength training classes/gyms? looking for a mostly/all female space, preferably with other girls in their 20s. thanks :-)

Finally got through the entire process and to no surprise got denied, so now I need to lawyer up.

I’m moving to Tacoma this summer, and I’d like to find a place near one of the bowling alleys because bowling has recently become a big hobby of mine. Where do the serious bowlers in Tacoma like to bowl? I care more about the community and staff quality than food/bar stuff.

I plan to join a league as soon as possible, preferably on Sport Shot if that’s an option.

if anyone has an extra ticket to Banana Ball this coming weekend at Cheney Stadium or is looking to sell theirs I am in search of one for the sunday game!