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Living in
Spanaway.
Spanaway 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 Spanaway
If you're considering Spanaway, understand that you're choosing a suburban bedroom community with solid economic fundamentals but a real commute reality. Median household income sits at a healthy $98,251, homes median around $446,000, and rent averages $1,813 monthly — which reflects the broader Puget Sound market. Jobs exist here, but many residents commute 37+ minutes for work, so you'll want to factor that into your daily life calculations.
Spanaway at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
14.7%
Broadband Internet
95.8%
of households
Population Growth
+5.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Spanaway: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Spanaway, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (21.4%), and 11.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.6%
of residents
65 and Older
10.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.8%
of households
Married Couples
51.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.91
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 about average for WA
Rent, home values, and income in Spanaway
In Spanaway, home values are 21% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,372
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $501,357 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Spanaway and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pierce County, which includes Spanaway, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Spanaway: Pierce County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pierce County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Spanaway is about 4% of Pierce County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Spanaway 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
Commute37.3 min avg
How Spanaway residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Spanaway, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 41% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 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 Spanaway, 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
25 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 Spanaway, 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
Spanaway is about 4% of Pierce County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate74°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Spanaway has mild summers (avg high 74°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
74°/51°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.9"
Annual Snowfall
5.6"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
60
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
166
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 33°F | 6.12" |
| Feb | 48°F | 33°F | 4.33" |
| Mar | 52°F | 36°F | 4.80" |
| Apr | 57°F | 39°F | 3.90" |
| May | 64°F | 45°F | 2.97" |
| Jun | 69°F | 49°F | 2.28" |
| Jul | 76°F | 52°F | 0.92" |
| Aug | 77°F | 53°F | 0.90" |
| Sep | 70°F | 48°F | 1.78" |
| Oct | 59°F | 42°F | 4.08" |
| Nov | 50°F | 36°F | 7.06" |
| Dec | 45°F | 33°F | 5.99" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Spanaway
Uninsured
6.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Spanaway's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Clare Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Lakewood
Madigan Amc (ft Lewis)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 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.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Spanaway
Spanaway's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Spanaway (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
10.2 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 · 2,401 students · in-state tuition $53,096 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,109 (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
13.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 276 students · in-state tuition $8,850 · 43% graduate · median earnings $57,111 (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, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Spanaway
Spanaway has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
35 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
35 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
38 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
76 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
78 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
95 mi awayCities Near Spanaway
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Spanaway?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Spanaway FAQ
Is Spanaway, Washington affordable?⌄
Spanaway's median rent is $1,813/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $98,251/year. Median home value is $445,700.
Is Spanaway, Washington safe?⌄
Spanaway 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 Spanaway, Washington?⌄
Pierce County, which includes Spanaway, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Spanaway, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Spanaway is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,813/month and median household income is $98,251/year. The median home value is $445,700. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Spanaway, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Spanaway is 37 minutes, which is longer than 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