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Living in
Parkland.
Parkland is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, WA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Parkland
Parkland works well if you want suburban living with Tacoma proximity and university-anchored stability, but you should know what you're getting into. The median home price of $423,000 is reasonable for the Seattle metro region, though rent at $1,663 a month is still notable if you're comparing to smaller towns. The community is genuinely family-oriented with a third of households including children, solid school options through Franklin Pierce, Bethel, and Clover Park districts, plus Pacific Lutheran University anchoring things culturally.
Parkland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Foreign-Born
13.8%
Broadband Internet
93.0%
of households
Population Growth
+5.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Parkland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Parkland, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.2%), and 7.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.6%
of households
Married Couples
40.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
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 6% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Parkland
In Parkland, rent runs 6% below the WA average, and home values are 25% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,194
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $458,812 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Parkland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pierce County, which includes Parkland, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Parkland: Pierce County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pierce County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Parkland is about 4% of Pierce County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Parkland 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
Commute30.5 min avg
How Parkland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Parkland, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 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 31% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, which covers Parkland, runs 31% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
226.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,070.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Pierce County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Parkland, 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
Parkland is about 4% 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
Parkland 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
42.9"
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 Parkland
Uninsured
7.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Parkland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Clare Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Lakewood
St Joseph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Tacoma
Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 6.3 mi away · Tacoma
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.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Parkland
Parkland's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 17.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Parkland
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,401 students · in-state tuition $53,096 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,109 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (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 · 4,668 students · in-state tuition $5,670 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,313 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
6.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,185 students · in-state tuition $13,577 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,594 students · in-state tuition $65,886 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,918 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith International University
9.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 276 students · in-state tuition $8,850 · 43% graduate · median earnings $57,111 (10 yrs after entry)
Northwest College of Art & Design
6.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 139 students · in-state tuition $18,100 · 50% graduate · median earnings $39,289 (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, 31 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Parkland
Parkland has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (31 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
31 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
31 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
40 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
73 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
74 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
97 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Parkland
Parkland/Spanaway Library
13718 Pacific Avenue South, Tacoma
Cities Near Parkland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Parkland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Parkland FAQ
Is Parkland, Washington affordable?⌄
Parkland's median rent is $1,663/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $72,239/year. Median home value is $423,000.
Is Parkland, Washington safe?⌄
Parkland is policed by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 226 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1070 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Parkland, Washington?⌄
Pierce County, which includes Parkland, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Parkland, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Parkland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,663/month and median household income is $72,239/year. The median home value is $423,000. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Parkland, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Parkland is 31 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