Orting was incorporated as a city in 1889 and became a hub for the logging industry, with many people starting Christmas tree farms in the area. “Orting” is an Indigenous word for a town on the prairie. Orting is now famous for being located near Mount Rainier, which is visible from every part of the city. It is a nice place to live, with beautiful weather, kid-friendly excursions, and delicious restaurants. If you’re thinking about moving to Orting, you should think about living in Orting first. Here is your guide to this great city.
Where Is Orting?
Orting is located in Pierce County, inside a valley between the Carbon and Puyallap Rivers. The city is in the Seattle metro area. Green areas surround the city, though the city is well-developed with paved roads. No cities directly border Orting Washington, but residents living in South Hill and living in Graham WA are close by.
It’s 41 miles from Orting WA to Seattle WA. Neither the Seattle nor the Tacoma WA public transportation systems serve Orting residents. Orting does not have a public transportation system. Pierce Transit is a bus system that serves Pierce County, but it has no stops in Orting.
Orting Population and Demographics
The population of Orting in 2020 was 9,052; it grew by 34% between 2010 and 2020, and the city has a population density of 3,245.8 people per square mile. Notable people from Orting include politician Steven Nielson, Medal of Honor recipient Frank Bois, and artist Neil Meitzler. The demographics of Orting WA are:
- 51.7% female, 48.3% male
- Median age: 34.7
- Racial composition: 84.6% White alone, 9.2% two or more races, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.7% Asian alone, 2.7% American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 0.4% Black or African American alone
- Median household income: $97,614, roughly 20% higher than the state median
- Educational attainment: 93.9% of residents have graduated high school, 18.9% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Foreign-born population: 5%
Orting WA is a very safe place to live. Here are the 2020 crime statistics from the FBI:
- Overall crime rate: 1,695 offenses per 100,000 people (44.0% lower than the state, 27.7% lower than the country)
- Violent crime rate: 102 offenses per 100,000 residents (65.3% lower than the state, 73.7% lower than the country)
- Property crime rate: 1,594 offenses per 100,000 residents (41.7% lower than the state, 18.6% lower than the country)
The Orting Police Department employs nine police officers, at a rate of one officer per 1,000 residents.
Cost of Living in Orting
Orting is in the Seattle metro area, and we’ve used statistics for the area to estimate the cost of living in Orting. The cost of living for the Seattle metro area is 152.7, meaning items cost 52.7% more than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $93,003 a year to live in Pierce County. Orting homes for sale have a median sales price of $475,000. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Orting is $1,935 a month. Though living in Orting can be expensive, higher paying jobs are available.
Typical Orting WA* Living Expenses
- 1 gallon of milk: $3.66
- 1 pound of tomatoes: $2.39
- 1 gallon of gasoline: $5.01
- Average City of Orting* utilities per month: $179.14
- 1 pair of jeans: $52.12
- 1 pair of running shoes: $80
Source: Numbeo
*Statistics for Tacoma
Orting Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Orting
Orting does not have formal neighborhoods. You can find houses for sale in Orting WA throughout the city, but the cheaper properties are located toward the southeast corner of Orting. Older two-bedroom homes for sale in Orting WA covering more than 1,500 square feet are available for as low as $145,000. You can find modern three-bedroom homes at less than 1,500 square feet for less than $500,000.
Homes in the northwest corner of the city are more expensive, but they’re also larger and more modern. Four-bedroom properties cover 2,000-3,200 square feet and contain three bathrooms. These homes have additional features like open-concept kitchens, stainless steel appliances, and walk-in showers.
Most residents own their own homes, but you can find a house for rent in Orting Washington. You can lease three-bedroom, two-bedroom rentals at 2,800 square feet for $3,200 a month. There are very few Orting apartments available for rent.
Orting Weather and Climate
Orting has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, meaning it has warm and dry summers with mild but wet winters. The average high temperature in July reaches 80 degrees, while average lows in January and December are 35 degrees.
November is the wettest month, with 17 days of rain and 8.6 inches of rain on average. The spring and fall are also wet, with each month having at least 10 days of rain. Orting experiences 51.2 inches of rain on average, with July being the driest month with 0.7 inches. The city experiences 3.1 inches of snow every year, with January seeing 1.4 inches.
Weather in Orting WA is overcast during the winter, fall, and spring. Only July, August, and September has at least 50% clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy days. July is the best time to visit Orting as the weather for Orting then has the least rain, most sunlight, and warmest temperatures.
Orting has experienced wildfires and floods. Buy flood insurance for your home and prepare for a flood by selecting an evacuation route out of town. Follow the local news for storm developments.
Things to Do in Orting
Orting is a hub for family-friendly and affordable activities. If you like shopping, you can visit the Pioneer Village Shopping Center, which contains a Safeway, Subway, and small stores. Big J’s Outdoor Store is a popular store for outdoor goods located nearby.
Epicenter Adventure
Epicenter Adventure is a must-do family entertainment center with bowling alleys, VR arenas, and arcade games. Young children love playing mini-bowling, while teenagers and young adults enjoy the escape rooms.
15317 Meridian East, Puyallup, WA 98375 253-523-3742
Foothills Trail
The Foothills Trail is a 21-mile-long asphalt park trail perfect for biking, walking, and skating. You can enjoy beautiful views of Mount Rainier and the Carbon River in a dog-friendly and tranquil space.
13810 80th Street, Puyallup, WA 98375
Daffodil Festival
The Daffodil Festival is a kid-friendly annual event celebrating Pierce County’s daffodil industry. It includes a daffodil parade with floats and musical performances as well as auctions and local vendors. The festival usually takes place on the first Saturday of April.
13701 24th Street East, Sumner, WA 98370 253-254-6371
Additional Attractions in Orting
The City of Orting Recreation/Events Department plans regular events. You can use the Orting events calendar to see when the latest family-friendly parties are.
Orting Restaurants
Seattle may be best known for its coffee and seafood. But Orting has cool and unique restaurants with many world cuisines, including great eateries you can eat in with kids.
Los Pinos
Los Pinos is a family-style Mexican restaurant that serves classic dishes like chimichangas, tostadas, and arroz con pollo. The restaurant is a popular site for birthday parties and corporate functions, and Los Pinos offers catering for any occasion.
228 Washington Avenue South, Orting, WA 98360 360-893-2333
Legendary Doughnuts
Legendary Doughnuts offers dozens of different donuts, including ones with fruit fillings and bacon. You can also order sandwiches with donuts as the buns.
212 Washington Avenue South, Orting, WA 98360 360-872-0517
Route 66 Pizza
Route 66 Pizza is a casual pizzeria with a roadhouse aesthetic. You can sit inside or outside, enjoying pizzas with fresh toppings as well as chicken wings and sandwiches.
201 Washington Avenue North, Orting, WA 98360 360-872-8990
Jobs in Orting
More than 4,000 people have jobs in Orting Washington. The job market grew by 12.5% between 2019 and 2020, with nearly 500 new jobs being added to the economy. The three biggest industries in Orting in terms of employment are office and administrative support, construction, and education and library work. According to Payscale, the average base salary in Orting is $65,000 a year, with an hourly wage of $24.34.
The top employers in Orting include the Orting School District, Safeway, and the Washington Soldiers Home. Indeed is a great tool to search for jobs in Orting, and you can also find City of Orting jobs on the municipal government’s website.
Orting Schools
The Orting School District serves Orting students. The district has two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, all within city limits. Orting High School has a graduation rate of 96%, with 74% of students testing at or above the proficiency rate in reading.
Pierce College is the closest college to Orting, though it is located in Puyallup. Pierce College is a community college that offers associate degrees in dozens of programs. You can transfer to another college after completing a program at Pierce and use your credits to get a bachelor’s degree.
The Orting Pierce County Library serves all Orting residents. You can use free Wi-Fi and take classes for adults and families.
Orting Statistics and Information
- County: Pierce
- Orting area: 2.76 square miles
- Orting zip code: 98360
- Orting area codes: 360, 564
- Orting elevation: 190 feet
- Orting time zone: Pacific Standard Time
- Closest airport to Orting Washington: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), 32 miles away
Orting WA Map
You can find plenty of fun activities, delicious restaurants, and beautiful green spaces with this map of Orting.
Living in Orting WA can be just the sort of thing you need to do! You can enjoy breathtaking outdoor spaces, delicious restaurants, and kid-friendly points of interest.
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