Seattle’s sky-high housing costs are turning Tacoma into the region’s not-so-secret backup plan, as buyers chase more house for far less money just down I‑5.
In May, the median single‑family home price in Tacoma hovered around $500,000, while Seattle’s single‑family median hit $1,037,500. That split is big enough to push families and first‑time buyers to trade a bit more time on the freeway for bigger yards, extra bedrooms, and monthly payments that do not feel quite so brutal. Brokers say that even as more listings hit the market, well‑priced homes on Tacoma’s lower end are still getting snapped up.
The pattern shows up both in the spreadsheets and the street chatter. A recent report from The Seattle Times pulled together broker anecdotes of quick sales at entry‑level prices and aggressive bidding on standout properties. The paper noted that Tacoma recorded about 1,141 single‑family sales through May, including a manufactured home that closed in April for roughly $365,000 after drawing multiple offers, while North End and waterfront listings can still climb past $1 million. According to the same report, Tacoma issued more single‑family permits in 2024 than in 2025, a signal that demand may be outrunning new construction.
NWMLS: More Listings, Prices Holding the Line
The Northwest Multiple Listing Service’s May snapshot shows active listings up roughly 16.8% year over year, with the regional median sales price sitting near $650,000. That gives buyers a bit more breathing room than they had earlier this spring, though no one is calling it a full‑on buyer’s market…