What BestPlaces Users Say about Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington is a mid-sized port city located 32 miles southwest of Seattle. With a population of over 213,000 people, it offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with a diverse culture and a strong job market. The city boasts beautiful views of Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound, as well as a variety of outdoor activities and a thriving arts scene. However, like any city, it has its pros and cons, and the following user reviews offer a glimpse into what it's like to live in Tacoma.
Overall, many users seem to have a positive experience living in Tacoma. One reviewer, Chris, shares on bestplaces.net that "Tacoma is a wonderful place to live. It has a unique blend of natural beauty, great food, and friendly people. There is always something to do and see here." Similarly, another user named Sarah states that "Tacoma offers a great quality of life, with a lower cost of living compared to Seattle. The job market is strong and the community is welcoming."
However, some users have expressed concerns about safety in certain areas of Tacoma. According to David, "Tacoma has its rough areas, but the city has been working hard to improve them. Overall, I feel safe and enjoy living here." Another user, Jessica, also notes that "while there are nice areas in Tacoma, there are also areas that are not as safe. It's important to do your research before deciding where to live."
In addition to safety, the cost of housing and traffic are also commonly mentioned by users. As Kayla shares, "housing in Tacoma is affordable, although it is getting more expensive. Traffic can be a headache during rush hour, but overall it's manageable." Similarly, Maria adds that "the cost of living in Tacoma is reasonable, but it can be tough to find affordable housing in desirable areas. Commuting can also be a challenge, but there are public transportation options available."
In conclusion, while Tacoma may have its drawbacks, it seems to offer a good balance of city living and outdoor attractions. As user John states, "Tacoma has a unique charm that draws people in. It's not perfect, but it has something for everyone." With its growing economy and diverse community, Tacoma seems to be a desirable place to call home for many individuals.
based on 40 ReviewsGet to know Tacoma with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Tacoma
Tacoma is truly awful - 10/5/2012
I went to college and stayed for over 25 years. I am not sure why I stayed because of the number of times I was a victim of a crime including assault by a stranger. There are people who will not even drive through the city out of fear. The high school dropout rate is thirty percent. The east side of Tacoma is particularly violent and it is best no on drives in this part of the violent town.
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As Summer Comes to a Close - 9/18/2012
I'm reminded, as I am every year, that the Puget Sound has the best summer weather in the country. An average of four days a year 90+. Cool, clear evenings that (because of how far north we are) just go on and on and
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General Overview of What to Expect - 8/31/2011
Climate: 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
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crime - 4/20/2010
anyone trying to say there isnt a crime problem with tacoma is either blind or doesnt know about tacoma.
i believe the main problem with the crime in tacoma is the legal system there being the pierce county superior court. this court runs on the belief turn them in and out as fast as you can, we dont want to spend any money on housing criminals.... just let them free.
a prime example is maurice clemmons. in 2009 clemmons was arrested for child rape in the second degree, being a fugitive from justice, and 8 count of felony assault(which was on pierce county sheriff officers) mr clemmons had a long history of criminal behavior before these arrests and this court allowed him to walk free which eventually he committed multiple murders while on bail.
my ex is a habitual felon in the tacoma area. she has been convicted since may of 2008 for unlawful possesion of a stolen vehicle, 2 counts of felony identity theft, another unlawful possesion of a stolen
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pierce county superior court is a joke - 4/20/2010
maurice clemmons for example.. if you live or know anything about tacoma then this name should ring a bell. check pierce county legal information network exchange(pierce county linx) this man was set free by this court numberous times before his multiple murder and death.
my ex is in this system and has commited on average 2 felonies a year since 2008 and gets nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
there is no wonder why this town is so overwhelmed with
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pierce county superior court is a joke - 4/20/2010
maurice clemmons for example.. if you live or know anything about tacoma then this name should ring a bell. check pierce county legal information network exchange(pierce county linx) this man was set free by this court numberous times before his multiple murder and death.
my ex is in this system and has commited on average 2 felonies a year since 2008 and gets nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
there is no wonder why this town is so overwhelmed with
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the legal system in this town is a joke for crimin - 4/19/2010
the pierce county superior court is a joke. and criminals laugh at it. just take the maurice clemmons case for example this is a man who in may of 2009 punched sheriffs and was let out on bail, then in july of 2009 was charged with child rape and let out on bail, only to after that commit multiple murders. he had a long arrest history and record and was not dealt with properly by this court system.
my ex lives in this area and is a known meth addict, since may of 2008 she has been convicted of 4 felonies on 3 occasions, she has done a total of 5 months in county jail and is currently in the drug court program, i would like to add that none of her charges are drug related.
i know that in missouri and most any other state she would have done time in prison by now for sure.
it is no wonder tacoma scores so high in crime, they only give criminals a slap on the wrist and release them to commit more crimes knowing that they will not have to face any
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the legal system in this town is a joke for crimin - 4/19/2010
the pierce county superior court is a joke. and criminals laugh at it. just take the maurice clemmons case for example this is a man who in may of 2009 punched sheriffs and was let out on bail, then in july of 2009 was charged with child rape and let out on bail, only to after that commit multiple murders. he had a long arrest history and record and was not dealt with properly by this court system.
my ex lives in this area and is a known meth addict, since may of 2008 she has been convicted of 4 felonies on 3 occasions, she has done a total of 5 months in county jail and is currently in the drug court program, i would like to add that none of her charges are drug related.
i know that in missouri and most any other state she would have done time in prison by now for sure.
it is no wonder tacoma scores so high in crime, they only give criminals a slap on the wrist and release them to commit more crimes knowing that they will not have to face any
Read More
the legal system in this town is a joke for crimin - 4/19/2010
the pierce county superior court is a joke. and criminals laugh at it. just take the maurice clemmons case for example this is a man who in may of 2009 punched sheriffs and was let out on bail, then in july of 2009 was charged with child rape and let out on bail, only to after that commit multiple murders. he had a long arrest history and record and was not dealt with properly by this court system.
my ex lives in this area and is a known meth addict, since may of 2008 she has been convicted of 4 felonies on 3 occasions, she has done a total of 5 months in county jail and is currently in the drug court program, i would like to add that none of her charges are drug related.
i know that in missouri and most any other state she would have done time in prison by now for sure.
it is no wonder tacoma scores so high in crime, they only give criminals a slap on the wrist and release them to commit more crimes knowing that they will not have to face any
Read More
Tacoma, WA - 2/22/2010
I live here because I had a job opportunity. As a retired military person and military brat I have lived all over the USA and had tours in Asia and Europe. I live in Lakewood which is a town now that used to be considered part of Tacoma in a higher end neighborhood which is near Joint Base Lewis Mcchord; I have lived here off and on since 1983. However, the Clover Park School district which includes Lakewood leaves much to be desired. Personally if I were telling someone where to live I would recommend University Place (another town that used to be part of Tacoma) which has the best local schools or possibly Northeast Tacoma which is basically part of Federal Way, a bedroom community for Seattle. Affordability in University Place and Federal Way can be a problem, though. If you are military, there are several planned communities particularly Northwest Landing which is adjacent to Ft. Lewis which is part of the Steilacoom school district. Also, most of the growth in this area is
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