Reviews & Comments
Tacoma, WA
General Overview of What to Expect -
8/31/2011Climate: heavy rain with sunny days during springtime, summer is usually from mid 70s to mid 80s without a cloud in the sky, fall is cool and breezy but changes from dry to rain as it get closer to winter, when it usually snows or is cold enough that you're thinking "oh yeah, tomorrow its gonna snow".
Lots of diversity as far as ethnicity is concerned (which includes a wide range of authentic cuisine from around the world), Carpooling and public transportation are goal of the state, eco-"friendly", great water (!!), very scenic with lots of trees and parks to preserve the natural beauty of the state, several recommended community colleges and universities, cultural recognition and appreciation from the community as well as a number of museums, parks, zoo and aquarium that are all positive aspects of Tacoma.
Some of the challenging aspects of living in Tacoma are: high sales tax (right about 10% in 2011 and probably going to increase again soon), increasing housing and overall living costs, drivers who don't know how to drive in the snow very well, lower air quality, and beware of possible gang members/activity in downtown area (Bloods vs. Crips) and crime. Many houses are on the market for lower their value, but you can also find the best deals as a buyer that way, if you are lucky enough to get a loan or have the cash already. Commuting to and from work can be a while, depending on where you're living and how deep within the city limits you are working.
People are generally nice as long as you're nice back and they've had an okay-ish day so far, but they don't like nosy people and can become confrontational real quick if they think you're in their business too much. Northeast Tacoma (across Commencement Bay) houses some of the more "rich" neighborhoods that are predominately white, mixed, or asian. Downtown Tacoma is a mix of black, mexican, and white but they have a much lower quality of life in comparision to the rest of Tacoma. South Tacoma is generally the mix of black, asian, russian, and mexican as well as many soldiers from the Army base nearby. Lots of big asian markets and restaurants (S. Tacoma Way is chock full of them), and mexican restaurants and communities are sprinkled into some of the low-income communities, and blacks are mostly living in the apartments or low-income communities. South Tacoma is neither "rich" or "poor".
Many churches in the Christian faith, mostly Baptist, Pentecostal, or Methodist-type churches. There are a number of catholic churches and private schools as well. Also there are a couple of Buddhist temples and I have been able to see at least one mosque and one synagogue within the city (not next to each other of course). There seem to be a population of mormons (LDS) as well, but I have yet to find their gathering places.
Anyways, hope this helps to inform you of different aspects of Tacoma.