The typical owner-occupied home in Pierce County is worth about $526,600, 7% below the Washington median of $564,600 and 58% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,770 a year in property taxes, about 0.91% of their home's value, higher than the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $99,564 a year, so the median home costs 5.3 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 71% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Pierce County at a glance
| Pierce County | Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $526,600 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,770 | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.91% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $99,564 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 65% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 71% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,423 | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 23.1% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,806 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 31.5% | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1986 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.0% | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 930,319 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Pierce County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Pierce County home of $526,600 with 20% down costs about $3,453 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,330, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $147,975 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 42% of the median Pierce County household income of $99,564; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $354,000.
The median rent here is $1,806 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,647 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $105,320 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $421,280 |
| Principal and interest | $2,834 |
| Property taxes (0.91% a year) | $399 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $219 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,453 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $18,431 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $517,062 |
| Principal and interest | $3,478 |
| Property taxes (0.91% a year) | $399 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $219 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $233 |
| Total per month | $4,330 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Pierce County
What is the median home value in Pierce County?
About $526,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Pierce County?
Homeowners pay a median $4,770 a year, which is about 0.91% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Pierce County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,453 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $147,975 a year.
More about Pierce County
- Mortgage Refinance in Pierce County
- Debt Relief in Pierce County
- Home Equity Loans in Pierce County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data