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Pierce County

WA · Pop. 924,106 · Urban County

26/100Homestead Score

Pierce County is an urban county in Washington, spanning 1,668 square miles with 924,106 residents at a density of 554 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, lettuce. A median home price of $484,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.94% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 200-day growing season, average summer highs of 73.3°F and average winter lows of 33.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital is 10.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.94%
Growing Season: 200 days
Broadband: 96%
Density: 554/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 200-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.94% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 96% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 10.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • Annual rainfall of 43.5 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A median home price of $484,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 554 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Pierce County, WA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
26/100
Median home price
$484k
Property tax
0.94%
Growing season
200 days (zone 8b)
Annual rainfall
43.5"
Broadband
96%
Nearest hospital
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital, 10.9 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.94%
Median Household Income$96,632
Poverty Rate8.9%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$484K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8b
Growing Season200 days
Annual Rainfall43.5 inches
Avg Summer High73.3°F
Avg Winter Low33.3°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Lettuce

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought2/10
Wildfire8/10
Tornado5/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalMulticare Good Samaritan Hospital (10.9 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities15

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage96%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate5%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Pierce County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Pierce County?
Pierce County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 200-day growing season, average summer highs of 73.3°F, and average winter lows of 33.3°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, lettuce.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $484,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.94%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 96% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital is 10.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 15 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.