Tacoma, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98409
Pierce County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 22,989
- 1,249/sq mi High-density area
- $73,348
- Median income Near-median income area
- $394,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 22.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Tacoma pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 48%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 21%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,249
- people per sq mi
- 44%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98409 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 98409 (Tacoma, WA) rose +3.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 384.7 in 2023 to 398.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98409 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, with 22,989 residents across 18.4 square miles, a density of 1,249 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98409 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $73,348 (19% below the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $40,831. The poverty rate is 15.6%, with unemployment at 6.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $394,500 (23% below the average Washington ZIP), and median rent is $1,645; owner occupancy is 44.4%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.2, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Pierce County, so 98409 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 98409
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Tacoma, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98409.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
277 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
139 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
119 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 110
Accommodation and food services
110 establishments
- Construction 95
Construction
95 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 98409, Tacoma, WA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
22,989
Population
18.4
Area (sq mi)
1,249
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98409?
33.2
Median Age
49.1%
Male
50.9%
Female
12.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$73,348
Median Household Income
-19% vs state ZIP avg
$40,831
Per Capita Income
15.6%
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
28.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98409 ranks among Washington ZIPs
Tacoma, WA household income vs. every Washington ZIP code
Median household income among 547 reporting Washington ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$73,348 34th percentile higher than 34% of 547 Washington ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Washington ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,688housing units
12,688
Total Housing Units
12,218
Occupied Units
470
Vacant Units
2.24
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$394,500
Median Home Value
-23% vs state ZIP avg
$1,645
Median Rent
1976
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+3.7%
YoY Change (2024)
399
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+299%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98409 have increased 3.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +299% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +9.6% | 286 |
| 2021 | +17.0% | 334 |
| 2022 | +14.7% | 383 |
| 2023 | +0.4% | 385 |
| 2024 | +3.7% | 399 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,152 business establishments in ZIP 98409, employing approximately 21,172 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,146,447,000.
1,152
Businesses
21,172
Employees
$1.1B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 277 | 24.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 139 | 12.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 119 | 10.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 110 | 9.6% |
| Construction | 95 | 8.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 74 | 6.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 57 | 5.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 55 | 4.8% |
| Manufacturing | 50 | 4.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 48 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 46 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28 | 2.4% |
| Information | 20 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 15 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 98409 vs 98405 →
ZIP 98409 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98404
Tacoma (98404)
32,086 residents
- 98499
Lakewood (98499)
29,750 residents
- 98466
Tacoma (98466)
26,944 residents
- 98409
Tacoma (98409)
22,989 residents
- 98405
Tacoma (98405)
22,851 residents
- 98406
Tacoma (98406)
21,610 residents
- 98408
Tacoma (98408)
18,830 residents
- 98467
University Place (98467)
14,728 residents
- 98418 10,069
Tacoma (98418)
10,069 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98409 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98409 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98406
Tacoma (98406)
$104,264 median income
- 98466
Tacoma (98466)
$101,778 median income
- 98467
University Place (98467)
$91,354 median income
- 98418
Tacoma (98418)
$89,706 median income
- 98403
Tacoma (98403)
$88,056 median income
- 98404
Tacoma (98404)
$82,191 median income
- 98408
Tacoma (98408)
$80,899 median income
- 98405
Tacoma (98405)
$75,946 median income
- 98409
Tacoma (98409)
$73,348 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 98409 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98405 | Tacoma, WA | 22,851 | 2.4 mi |
| 98418 | Tacoma, WA | 10,069 | 1.9 mi |
| 98408 | Tacoma, WA | 18,830 | 1.9 mi |
| 98416 | Tacoma, WA | 1,014 | 3.6 mi |
| 98499 | Lakewood, WA | 29,750 | 3.3 mi |
| 98466 | Tacoma, WA | 26,944 | 2.8 mi |
| 98467 | University Place, WA | 14,728 | 3.1 mi |
| 98404 | Tacoma, WA | 32,086 | 3.4 mi |
| 98406 | Tacoma, WA | 21,610 | 3.7 mi |
| 98403 | Tacoma, WA | 7,713 | 3.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98409, both outside WA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (22,989 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Pierce County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 98409 in?
ZIP code 98409 (Tacoma) is located in Pierce County, Washington. Pierce County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/pierce-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98409?
ZIP code 98409 in Tacoma, WA has a population of 22,989 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98409?
The median household income in ZIP 98409 is $73,348, which is 4% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98409?
The median home value in ZIP 98409 is $394,500, which is 42% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98409?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98409 is White at 50.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 16.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98409?
ZIP code 98409 has 1,152 business establishments employing approximately 21,172 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98409?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98409 are: Retail trade (277), Other services (except public administration) (139), Health care and social assistance (119). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98409?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98409 increased by 3.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 299%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 98409?
In ZIP code 98409, 50.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 98409?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98409 is 28.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 98409?
In ZIP code 98409, approximately 44.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98409?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98409 is 15.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 98409's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98409 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Tacoma, WA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.