The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 98408 sells for about $432,458, or $285 per square foot.
Prices are down 2.1% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 34 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,850 a month.
ZIP 98408 — Tacoma
The 98408 housing market is currently stable, with a median sale price of $432,458 and a moderate inventory level of 75 active listings. Market activity has cooled slightly compared to previous years, reflecting broader regional trends of price stabilization and longer days on market. Buyers are finding more negotiation room, as evidenced by a sale-to-list ratio below 100%.
This ZIP is well-suited for first-time homebuyers and families seeking more affordable entry points into the Tacoma market compared to the city's northern and western neighborhoods.
Median prices moved down 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 34 days on market with 2.4 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
22% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.8% · poverty 11.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 98408, Pierce County WA
Crime rates in the South End area are generally higher than the national average, with property crime being the most frequently reported issue in the district.
Schools serving the 98408 area are part of the Tacoma Public Schools district, which maintains a diverse range of academic performance ratings across its elementary and secondary campuses.
The area faces moderate risks related to seismic activity common to the Puget Sound region, with localized flood risks in low-lying areas near the Puyallup River basin.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to the Port of Tacoma and ongoing urban infill projects, though large-scale corporate developments are primarily concentrated in the downtown core.
Property taxes are assessed by Pierce County based on the annual market value of the property, with rates determined by a combination of state, county, city, and school district levies.
Residents typically commute via I-5 or SR-7 to reach major employment hubs in downtown Tacoma or Seattle, with transit options provided by Pierce Transit bus routes.
The area features several local parks including Wapato Park, which offers a lake, walking trails, and picnic areas, alongside proximity to various neighborhood shopping centers.
The rental market is characterized by steady demand from working-class households, with moderate vacancy pressure and a mix of single-family rentals and older apartment complexes.
The local economy is anchored by logistics, healthcare, and government services, with significant employment provided by the Port of Tacoma and nearby military installations.
The area is served by a grid-based street system with access to I-5 and SR-512, facilitating regional travel throughout the South Sound.
City planning efforts are focused on transit-oriented development along major corridors and increasing housing density in established neighborhoods.
The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer maintains property valuations based on annual physical inspections and market sales data.
Parcels are subject to Tacoma Public Schools, Pierce County, and various utility districts including Tacoma Public Utilities.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional wildfire risk assessments and proximity to urban fire services.
Washington State continues to see net positive domestic migration, though growth has moderated compared to the 2020-2022 period.
Washington is a non-judicial foreclosure state, requiring a specific notice of default process before a trustee sale can occur.
Sellers are required to provide a comprehensive real estate transfer disclosure statement covering the condition of the property.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 98408 profile.
- Wild Waves Theme and Water Park3.98.4 mi
- Round1 Bowling & Arcade - Puyallup3.87.2 mi
- Dave & Buster's3.912.1 mi
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park4.25.5 mi
- Chuck E. Cheese416.8 mi
- Washington State Fair Event Center4.37.1 mi
- Tacoma Dome4.13.3 mi
- Wild Waves Theme and Water Park3.98.4 mi
- White River Amphitheatre4.116 mi
- accesso ShoWare Center4.516.6 mi
- Washington State Fair Event Center4.37.1 mi
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium4.58.7 mi
- Chambers Bay Golf Course4.75.9 mi
- Point Defiance Park4.78.9 mi
- Dash Point State Park4.58.7 mi
- Museum of Glass4.53.8 mi
- LeMay - America’s Car Museum4.73.2 mi
- Children's Museum of Tacoma4.64 mi
- Tacoma Art Museum4.63.9 mi
- Washington State History Museum4.63.8 mi
- Chambers Bay Golf Course4.75.9 mi
- Point Defiance Park4.78.9 mi
- Dash Point State Park4.58.7 mi
- Sprinker Recreation Center4.54.7 mi
- Point Ruston4.77.9 mi
- Tacoma Yacht Club4.78.6 mi
- Point Defiance Marina4.78.7 mi
- City of Des Moines Marina4.515.5 mi
- Foss Harbor Marina4.64.5 mi
- Tyee Marina4.17.4 mi
- Chambers Bay Golf Course4.75.9 mi
- The Home Course4.611.9 mi
- Meadow Park Golf Course4.53.1 mi
- High Cedars Golf Club4.111 mi
- Eagle's Pride Golf Course & Simulator412.8 mi
- Tacoma Mall4.12.1 mi
- The Outlet Collection Seattle4.212 mi
- South Hill Mall4.17.3 mi
- WinCo Foods4.30.8 mi
- Metropolitan Market Tacoma4.65.8 mi
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Parking Garage3.418.7 mi
- King County International Airport - Boeing Field4.524.8 mi
- Kenmore Air - Lake Union4.630.6 mi
- The Club SEA2.718.4 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Features a lake, walking trails, and a playground.
A major commercial corridor with diverse local businesses and restaurants.
Key-figure check: median price corroborated by the prior refresh cycle (within 12.5%).