Last verified: June 1, 2026. Figures below are drawn from official City of Tacoma, Pierce County, and U.S. Census Bureau sources, but population estimates, ZIP assignments, and parcel records change. Always confirm time-sensitive details at the official links provided.
If you live, build, invest, or run a business in Tacoma, sooner or later you need the hard civic data: which ZIP code an address sits in, how many people the city actually holds, where the city limits stop and Pierce County takes over, and how to pull up a parcel before you make a move. This is the reference desk for all of it. Most of these numbers are stable; the few that aren’t, we point you straight at the live tool.
Tacoma civic data at a glance
- Population: 229,816 per the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2025 Vintage estimate, up from 219,346 at the 2020 census — Tacoma is Washington’s third-largest city, behind Seattle and Spokane. Verify at U.S. Census QuickFacts.
- ZIP codes: Tacoma’s main city-proper ZIP codes run 98402–98409, plus 98416, 98418, 98421–98422, and several in the 98444–98499 range; the full Tacoma postal area spans 98401–98499. Look up any address at the USPS ZIP Code Lookup.
- Official maps & GIS: the city’s public GIS viewer is TacomaMAP (tMap), and 70+ datasets live on the open-data portal. Start at Tacoma Open Data & Maps.
- Parcel lookup: property and parcel records are held by the county — search the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer portal (check live).
- Civic identity: Tacoma is the county seat of Pierce County, incorporated November 12, 1875, with a royal-blue city flag bearing the city seal at its center.
- Land area: about 49.7 square miles of land (62.3 sq mi total including water) on Puget Sound, roughly 30 miles south of Seattle.
Tacoma GIS, parcel maps & the tMap viewer
The City of Tacoma runs its public mapping through TacomaMAP (tMap), an interactive GIS viewer where you can toggle layers for zoning, council districts, neighborhood boundaries, utilities, and more. It is the front door for “where is this, and what rules apply.” Open it directly at tmap.tacoma.gov (check live), and browse the broader catalog of 70-plus datasets — bridges, equity index, fire and police, council districts — on the Tacoma Open Data portal.
For a focused property dive, the city also publishes a Parcel Analysis tool at parcelanalysis.cityoftacoma.org where you enter an address or parcel number. Because individual parcel records — ownership, assessed value, tax status, lot dimensions — change constantly and are the official record of the county, we don’t reprint any single parcel’s numbers here. Instead, pull them live: search the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal (ATIP) by address or parcel number (check live). The county tracks roughly 350,000 properties, and the parcel number always returns the cleanest result.
Tacoma ZIP codes & address lookup
“City of Tacoma ZIP codes” is the single most-searched question on this beat, and the honest answer is that “Tacoma” as a USPS place name attaches to dozens of ZIPs — some are city-proper, some are PO Box or unique business ZIPs, and several fall in unincorporated Pierce County that still uses a Tacoma mailing address. The core residential ZIP codes inside the city are 98402, 98403, 98404, 98405, 98406, 98407, 98408, 98409, 98416, 98418, 98421, 98422, 98465, 98466, and 98467, with 98444–98447 covering Parkland/Spanaway-adjacent areas that often carry Tacoma addresses.
The mailing address you see on an envelope is not proof of being inside city limits — that’s a jurisdiction question, not a postal one (see the next section). To confirm the exact ZIP for any address, use the USPS ZIP Code Lookup, which is the authoritative source and updates as ZIP boundaries shift.
City limits, boundaries & jurisdiction
Tacoma covers about 49.7 square miles of land (62.3 square miles counting Commencement Bay and other water) along the southern reach of Puget Sound. The city is bordered by Federal Way and unincorporated Pierce County to the north and east, Fife and the Puyallup River valley to the east, Lakewood and University Place to the south and west, and the water of Puget Sound to the northwest.
Whether a specific address is inside the city limits — which determines police, permitting, taxes, and utility jurisdiction — is best answered visually. Turn on the city-limits and council-district layers in TacomaMAP (tMap) (check live), or use the city’s DART map, which overlays parcels, council districts, and neighborhood district boundaries. The eight City Council districts and Tacoma’s official neighborhood council areas are also published as downloadable layers on the open-data portal.
Population & demographics
Tacoma’s 2020 census count was 219,346, and the Census Bureau’s most recent annual estimate puts the city at 229,816 (2025 Vintage) — continued steady growth that keeps Tacoma as Washington’s third-most-populous city, behind Seattle and Spokane. The city’s population density runs roughly 4,400 people per square mile of land.
By the Census Bureau’s QuickFacts figures, Tacoma is approximately 57% White (White alone), 13% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 10% Black or African American, 9% Asian, and about 9% two or more races, with a median age in the mid-30s — one of the more diverse big cities in the state. These figures move with each annual estimate and the full decennial count, so for current, granular demographic tables (income, age, housing, education) pull the source directly from data.census.gov or the topline QuickFacts page.
Civic identity: flag, seal & county seat
Tacoma was incorporated on November 12, 1875 and is the county seat of Pierce County, meaning the county’s courts and administrative seat sit within the city. Tacoma runs on a council–manager form of government.
The current city flag, adopted June 18, 1991, is a royal-blue field with the city seal in blue and gold at its center — the third of Tacoma’s three official flags (after the 1931 and 1972 designs). The city seal depicts the founding-era scene: Mount Rainier (historically “Mount Tacoma”) rising over a waterway, a nod to the city’s rail-terminus and port origins. You can buy an official city flag and reach the records keepers through the Tacoma City Clerk’s Office.
Frequently asked questions
What are the City of Tacoma ZIP codes?
Tacoma’s core city ZIP codes include 98402–98409, 98416, 98418, 98421, 98422, and 98465–98467, with the wider Tacoma postal area spanning 98401–98499 (including PO Box and unique business ZIPs). Confirm the ZIP for any specific address with the official USPS ZIP Code Lookup.
What is the population of the City of Tacoma?
Tacoma’s official 2020 census population was 219,346, and the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimate (2025 Vintage) is 229,816, making it Washington’s third-largest city. See current figures at Census QuickFacts.
Where can I find official City of Tacoma maps?
The city’s public mapping tools are TacomaMAP (tMap) for interactive GIS layers and the Tacoma Open Data portal for 70-plus downloadable datasets. Start at the Tacoma Open Data & Maps page or open tMap directly.
How do I look up a Tacoma parcel or property record?
Parcel and property records are maintained by the county, not the city. Search by address or parcel number on the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal; the city’s Parcel Analysis tool offers an additional city-data view.
What does the City of Tacoma GIS system show?
Tacoma’s GIS (via tMap) lets you view and toggle layers including zoning, city limits, the eight council districts, neighborhood boundaries, utilities, bridges, and more. Explore it live at tmap.tacoma.gov or download the underlying data from data.tacoma.gov.