Tacoma is a city in Washington located on the Puget Sound inlet. This coastal, southwest Seattle city has an urban ambiance, a prominent art community, scenic views, and beautiful beaches and parks. The city of Tacoma is a very good place to live because of its many attractive attributes, like great schools, beautiful neighborhoods, and safe streets.
The Tacoma cost of living is only 23% higher than the national average, and 2% higher than the states cost of living, making it more affordable than other cities in Washington like Seattle.
Before moving to any city, ensuring its safe is crucial. There are multiple ways you can research a city’s crime rate, crime rate by area, and what type of crimes are most common. While the Tacoma crime rate is higher than Washington and the US, keep in mind that crime is present in any city or town, and there are many safe areas and neighborhoods in Tacoma to choose from.
Understanding the Tacoma Crime Rate – How Crime Rates Are Calculated
While crime rate statistics can be a helpful tool, they aren’t always 100% accurate at portraying the city’s overall safety. For example, while the total crime rate statistic the FBI provides for Tacoma is higher than the Washington crime rate, some areas in Tacoma have a lower crime rate than Washington. These inaccuracies happen due to a few variables.
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics are provided by local and state law enforcement, which all have a different process, and many aren’t even reported by the police!
- Crimes aren’t always uniform. The category a crime falls under is dependent on how the police officers view it and report it.
- Statistics need context. Even though a crime increase or decrease doesn’t classify it as drastic or alarming. For instance, while the overall violent crime rate in the US increased in 2020, the peak crime rate was still well below the highest crime rate during the 80s and 90s.
- Crime statistics are measured by city, not by area. All cities have safe and unsafe areas, and crime rate stats can be misleading about the city’s safe areas. Some cities can have two or three very bad neighborhoods that cause their overall crime rate to spike.
What Is the Tacoma Crime Rate?
Let’s dive into Tacoma crime statistics to help you better understand whether Tacoma, WA, is safe. Tacoma, WA, has a total crime rate 109.9% higher than Washington and 170.7% higher than the country.
Tacoma crime
- The Tacoma crime rate is 6,351 per 100k people.
- The violent crime rate is 843 per 100k people, or 187.0% higher than the state and 117.4% higher than the country.
- The property crime rate is 5,507 per 100k people, or 101.5% higher than the state and 181.2% higher than the country.
Washington crime
- Washington’s crime rate is 3,026 per 100k people.
- The violent crime rate is 294 per 100k people.
- The property crime rate is 5,507 per 100k people.
National crime
- The national crime rate is 2,346 per 100k people.
- The violent crime rate is 388 per 100k people.
- The national property crime rate is 1,958 per 100k people.
Tacoma Crime Map & Crime Reports
The Tacoma crime map is a great tool to help highlight safe places to live in Tacoma. The Tacoma crime map will indicate the areas of Tacoma to avoid as well as the areas of Tacoma that are the safest. You can research crime reports and Tacoma police reports to gain insight, especially for specific neighborhoods; for example, how often the police are called and what type of disputes they are going to. Any Tacoma police report is a public record and can be found online.
Violent Crime in Tacoma
The Tacoma violent crime rate is 843 per 100k people, compared to Washington’s violent crime rate of 294 and the national violent crime rate of 388. There are a total of 1,856 violent crimes each year, including 28 murders and non negligent manslaughter, 127 rapes, 435 robberies, and 1,266 aggravated assault. There is a 1 and 119 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Tacoma, and the Tacoma murder rate is 13 per 100k people. There were 45 Tacoma homicides in 2022; many of the Tacoma murders were due to shootings in bad areas of Tacoma.
In Tacoma, Washington, crime has seen a 50% increase in 2020; that’s not to say all areas of Tacoma are riddled with crime or that there are no safe neighborhoods. In fact, Tacoma has seen a 36% decrease in violent crime since the start of 2023. The police officers and community leaders take the safety of their citizens seriously and have entered 2023 with a well-formulated crime reduction plan.
Property Crime in Tacoma
The property crime rate in Tacoma is 505,07 per 100k people, which is higher than the state property crime rate of 2,732 per 100k people and the national crime rate of 1,958 per 100k people. However, the Tacoma police department has implemented a new initiative to help reduce property crime in Tacoma. The total property crimes committed in Tacoma are 12,123 – 1,987 burglaries, 7,967 theft and larceny, 2,169 motor vehicle theft, and 134 arson.
Theft and larceny are the most common Tacoma crime, so the Tacoma police department and Washington state legislation are working diligently to enact certain bills and policing methods to reduce these high numbers.
Bad Areas of Tacoma
Before moving to Tacoma, you’ll want to be aware of the bad areas of Tacoma, including where to steer clear of, and which neighborhoods are a less than ideal place to buy real estate.
South Tacoma
South Tacoma is considered one of the most dangerous places to live in Tacoma, according to some residents and police reports. Between the numerous Tacoma shootings, robberies, and petty theft, this neighborhood is not be an ideal area to live in. The area is overpopulated, and has an extremely high homeless population. The violent crime rate in South Tacoma is 1,284 per 100k people, or 54% higher than the Tacoma crime rate.
Central
Central Tacoma has a population of 22,107, making it one of the larger Tacoma neighborhoods. The Central Tacoma crime rate has a violent crime rate of 1,206 per 100k people, which is only 43% higher than the Tacoma, WA crime rate.
South End
South End Tacoma crime is higher than Tacoma crime, especially violent. The South End violent crime is 1,069 per 100k people, which is 27% more than Tacoma. While South End is slightly less dangerous than the above two, that’s not to say there aren’t better areas to live. With a population of 39.768, South End is also very populated.
New Tacoma
New Tacoma has a population of 12,684 and a violent crime rate of 934 per 100k people (11% more than Tacoma.) While New Tacoma has a lower violent crime rate than other recommended areas of Tacoma to avoid, we’ve listed the safest neighborhoods in Tacoma, WA below.
Safest Neighborhoods in Tacoma
Tacoma is a good place to live, as it boasts many spectacular neighborhoods. Here we’ve listed several of the safest neighborhoods in Tacoma, including those with lower crime and family-friendly things to do.
North End
North End is one of Tacoma, Washington’s best and safest neighborhoods. Between exceptional food choices like Pomodoro Italian Restaurant & Bar, quaint cafes, and family-friendly things to do like Cummings Park, enjoying this neighborhood is easy. Not to mention its exceptional location off the Commencement Bay, resulting in magnificent waterfront views.
Although most homes are beautiful and positioned on or near the water, the median house price is only $560,000, less than
North End has a low violent crime rate of 212 per 100k people, which is 75% less than Tacoma. West end (another desirable area) and only slightly more than the Tacoma median home price.
Northeast Tacoma
Northeast Tacoma is one of the safest neighborhoods in Tacoma, WA, with a violent crime rate of 205 per 100k people, or 76% less than Tacoma. Northeast is the best option if you’re looking for the safest option for you and your family.
Northeast Tacoma also have great parks like Garfield Park and delicious eateries like Art House Cafe
West End
West End, Tacoma, WA has a violent crime rate that’s 40% lower than Tacoma. West End is a great option if you’re looking for a safe Tacoma, WA neighborhood, to raise your family. It’s one of the safest areas to live in Tacoma with some of the lowest crime rates.
West End is best known for the many activities located nearby, for example, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is just around the corner, and Point Defiance Park is another great option.
Tacoma Safety Safety Tips – How to Avoid Crime in Tacoma
While the Tacoma, Washington Crime is high in some areas, there are still plenty of safe neighborhoods in Tacoma. No matter where you live, crime is inevitable; here are a few safety tips to help you avoid Tacoma crime. Steering clear of South Tacoma is a great way to avoid crime. For example, South Hosmer Street, which is between 84th and 90th, is considered a “hot spot” for violent crime. Generally speaking, we do our best to protect ourselves and our belongings, regardless of our neighborhood or city.
One million burglaries per year happen in the US, which means there is a good chance of becoming a victim of property crime. However, you can implement numerous protective practices to lessen your chances of becoming a victim.
- Add exterior lighting; increased outside lighting may deter a criminal from your property.
- Lock your windows and doors, even during the day – 25% of burglaries happen during the day.
- Don’t overshare on social media. If your accounts aren’t private, anyone can watch for you when you’re not home or out of town.
- Install security systems and alarms.
- Don’t go out after dark. An attacker can be waiting for you around any corner.
- Always carry pepper spray.
- Travel in groups when you can.
Tacoma Police Department
The Tacoma Police Department was founded in 1885 and has since gained 341 sworn officers, two officers per 1,000 citizens. The Police Chief of Tacoma is Avery L. Moore. All the police officers wear body cameras, and the department offers to partake in numerous community projects. All Tacoma police reports are public records and can be requested off the police department’s website.
Tacoma Police Department 3701 S Pine St, Tacoma, WA 98409, Non emergency number: (253) 287-4455
Tacoma Crime Rate FAQ
- Is Tacoma, Washington, safe? Yes, there are plenty of safe neighborhoods in Tacoma. Even though Tacoma crime was bad for a short stint, crime has decreased throughout the city in the past few months.
- Is Tacoma safer than Seattle? Tacoma is generally safer than Seattle overall but can be more dangerous in certain areas.
- What is the crime rate in Tacoma? The crime rate in Tacoma is 6,351 per 100k people.
As with any city, crime is present; however, the city of Tacoma has decreased crime since the police department implemented crime reduction plans. Practicing safety measures also goes a long way toward protecting your family. Once you find your dream Tacoma home call the best Tacoma moving company at 360-507-2447 for a free moving estimate. We can help you save on your Tacoma moving costs while relieving the stress relocation entails.
