Pierce County, WA at a glance
Median household income
$99,564$8,297 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Pierce County, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Pierce County, WA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Tacoma, WA HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,428 | $17,136 | $57,120 | 17.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,605 | $19,260 | $64,200 | 19.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,971 | $23,652 | $78,840 | 23.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,733 | $32,796 | $109,320 | 32.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,102 | $37,224 | $124,080 | 37.4% |
What a typical income covers in Pierce County, WA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $99,564 a year ($8,297 a month before tax).
What $99,564 leaves after Washington taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Washington tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Washington
Living in Pierce County, WA: common questions
What is the median household income in Pierce County, WA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Pierce County, WA is $99,564 per year (approximately $8,297 per month).
What is the average rent in Pierce County, WA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,428 for a studio, $1,605 for one bedroom, $1,971 for two, $2,733 for three and $3,102 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Pierce County, WA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.1% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 111.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Pierce County, WA?
To keep a $1,971 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $78,840 a year, or $6,570 a month. That is 79% of what the typical household in Pierce County, WA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Pierce County, WA?
On the local median income of $99,564 ($8,297 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,149 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,489 for everything else and $1,659 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,971 takes 48% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Pierce County, WA?
Homes in Washington paid 14.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $134. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.