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Living in
Fife.
About
Life in Fife
Fife is a community of 10,902 people in Washington. The median household income is $90,515, median rent runs about $1,889 per month, and median home values are around $543,100. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.
Fife at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Foreign-Born
23.5%
Broadband Internet
95.7%
of households
Population Growth
+1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.5% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Fife: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fife, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (12.5%), and 8.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.7%
of residents
65 and Older
7.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.5%
of households
Married Couples
45.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.68
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Fife
In Fife, rent runs 7% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,454
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2000
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $547,354 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Fife and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pierce County, which includes Fife, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Fife: Pierce County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pierce County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Fife is about 1% of Pierce County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Fife Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute26.9 min avg
How Fife residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fife, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 193% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fife runs 193% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
965.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,744.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fife Police Department
Natural Disasters
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Pierce County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
29 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Data not yet available
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Pierce County, which includes Fife, is typically good — 267 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
267
per year
Moderate Days
98
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Pierce County, county-wide
Fife is about 1% of Pierce County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fife has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.8"
Annual Snowfall
5.6"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
27
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
156
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 37°F | 6.03" |
| Feb | 50°F | 37°F | 4.03" |
| Mar | 55°F | 40°F | 4.38" |
| Apr | 60°F | 44°F | 3.39" |
| May | 67°F | 49°F | 2.00" |
| Jun | 71°F | 53°F | 1.42" |
| Jul | 77°F | 57°F | 0.55" |
| Aug | 77°F | 57°F | 0.83" |
| Sep | 71°F | 53°F | 1.57" |
| Oct | 61°F | 47°F | 4.09" |
| Nov | 52°F | 41°F | 6.50" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 6.02" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fife
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fife's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Francis Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Federal Way
St Joseph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Tacoma
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Puyallup
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fife
Fife's student/teacher ratio is 19.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fife (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 5,313 students · in-state tuition $5,578 · 42% graduate · median earnings $52,562 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,965 students · in-state tuition $5,172 · 47% graduate · median earnings $54,621 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,668 students · in-state tuition $5,670 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,313 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,185 students · in-state tuition $13,577 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,401 students · in-state tuition $53,096 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,109 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fife
Fife has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
25 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
40 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
70 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
73 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fife
Fife Library
6622 20th Street E, Fife
Cities Near Fife
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fife?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fife FAQ
Is Fife, Washington affordable?⌄
Fife's median rent is $1,889/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $90,532/year. Median home value is $543,100.
Is Fife, Washington safe?⌄
Fife's violent crime rate was 966 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3745 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fife, Washington?⌄
Pierce County, which includes Fife, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fife, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Fife is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,889/month and median household income is $90,532/year. The median home value is $543,100. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fife, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Fife is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from