BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Tacoma, WA

C
Score
47/100
Rank #125 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Tacoma is more of a niche fit for remote work—best if you prioritize typical rent (2br), plus broadband subscription. Overall, it’s better for a specific set of priorities (#125 of 200). One thing to keep in mind is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · WA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Tacoma ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,693/mo (17% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 92% (1% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Median household income: $83,857 (11% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 21% (83% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Bachelor’s+ rate: 34% (3% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
220,482
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,693/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
14%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
92%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$83,857
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
34%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
21%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
49/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
92/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
32/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
79/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

9%
Less than HS
58%
HS / Some college
21%
Bachelor’s
13%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

14%
Work from home
86%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

92%
Broadband
8%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,693/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
92%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
14%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$83,857
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
34%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
21%

Similar cities (by score)

#123 Milwaukee, WI
47/100
#124 San Antonio, TX
47/100
#126 Port St. Lucie, FL
47/100
#127 Norfolk, VA
47/100

FAQ

›What is Tacoma’s remote work score and rank?
Tacoma, WA scores C (47/100) and ranks #125 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Tacoma city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Tacoma, WA?
Population is about 220,482 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Tacoma, WA?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Tacoma, WA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,693/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Tacoma, WA?
Work-from-home share is 14% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Tacoma, WA?
Broadband subscription is 92% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Tacoma, WA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 9%, HS/some college 58%, bachelor’s 21%, advanced 13%.
›Where does this data come from for Tacoma, WA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).