Pierce County, WA

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Population

891,299

1.66% growth

Poverty Rate

12.2%


Median Age

36.4


Median Household Income

$75,407

8.85% growth

Number of Employees

426,648

4.82% growth

Median Property Value

$338,400

12.7% growth

About

COVID-19

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2018, Pierce County, WA had a population of 891k people with a median age of 36.4 and a median household income of $75,407. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Pierce County, WA grew from 876,764 to 891,299, a 1.66% increase and its median household income grew from $69,278 to $75,407, a 8.85% increase.

The population of Pierce County, WA is 66.1% White Alone, 11.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 6.87% Two or More Races. N/A% of the people in Pierce County, WA speak a non-English language, and 95.3% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Pierce County, WA are Tacoma Community College (1,894 degrees awarded in 2017), University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (1,716 degrees), and Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom (1,674 degrees).

The median property value in Pierce County, WA is $338,400, and the homeownership rate is 62.8%. Most people in Pierce County, WA commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 31.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Pierce County, WA is 2 cars per household.

Photo by Metro Wind

United StatesWashingtonSeattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

COVID-19

Total Confirmed Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Washington.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases by date in Washington compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Impact on Employment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Washington (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Community Mobility

Showing data at the state level for Washington.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Washington across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Economy

The economy of Pierce County, WA employs 427k people. The largest industries in Pierce County, WA are Health Care & Social Assistance (63,330 people), Retail Trade (47,492 people), and Manufacturing (37,103 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($81,645), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($78,250), and Public Administration ($69,163).

Median household income in Pierce County, WA is $75,407. Males in Pierce County, WA have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $58,794. The income inequality in Pierce County, WA (measured using the Gini index) is 0.469, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$75,407

2018 value

± $1,954

8.85%

1 Year Growth

± 3.7%

Households in Pierce County, WA have a median annual income of $75,407, which is more than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $69,278 in 2017, which represents a 8.85% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Pierce County, WA compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Washington.

$79,555

Average Male Salary

± $1,504

$58,794

Average Female Salary

± $1,224

In 2018, full-time male employees in Washington made 1.35 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Washington by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Washington.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $76,629 ± $3,310

  2. White

    $62,679 ± $1,044

  3. Two or More Races

    $50,209 ± $3,211

In 2018 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Washington workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.22 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Washington by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Pierce County, WA is from Washington.

0.469

2018 Wage GINI

0.466

2017 Wage GINI

In 2018, the income inequality in Washington was 0.469 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.658% growth from 2017 to 2018, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2018 the GINI for Washington was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Washington in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Washington across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 703.07

  2. Census Tract 9400.11

  3. Census Tract 724.05

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Pierce County, WA was Census Tract 703.07 with a value of $133,010, followed by Census Tract 9400.11 and Census Tract 724.05, with respective values of $112,944 and $111,900.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Pierce County, WA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

12.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Pierce County, WA (101k out of 829k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 35 - 44.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    65,506 ± 1,958

  2. Hispanic

    18,904 ± 1,021

  3. Two Or More

    9,903 ± 799

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Pierce County, WA is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

427k

2018 Value

± 10,800

4.82%

1 Year growth

± 3.44%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Pierce County, WA grew at a rate of 4.82%, from 407k employees to 427k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Pierce County, WA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (50,113 people), Management Occupations (39,340 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (39,012 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Pierce County, WA.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Pierce County, WA, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (50,113 people), Management Occupations (39,340 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (39,012 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Pierce County, WA has an unusually high number of residents working as Transportation Occupations (1.31 times higher than expected), Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (1.29 times), and Community & Social Service Occupations (1.29 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Pierce County, WA, by median earnings, are Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors ($85,180), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($80,832), and Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($80,302).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

427k

2018 Value

± 10,800

4.82%

1 Year growth

± 3.44%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Pierce County, WA grew at a rate of 4.82%, from 407k employees to 427k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Pierce County, WA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (63,330 people), Retail Trade (47,492 people), and Manufacturing (37,103 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Pierce County, WA, though some of these residents may live in Pierce County, WA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Pierce County, WA, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (63,330 people), Retail Trade (47,492 people), and Manufacturing (37,103 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Pierce County, WA has an unusually high number of Public Administration (1.57 times higher than expected), Transportation & Warehousing (1.48 times), and Management of Companies & Enterprises (1.25 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Pierce County, WA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($81,645), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($78,250), and Public Administration ($69,163).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Washington to other states, or from other states to Washington.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Transport equip.

    $45.6B

  2. Mixed freight

    $39.9B

  3. Misc. mfg. prods.

    $29B

In 2015, the top outbound Washington product (by dollars) was Transport equip. with $45.6B, followed by Mixed freight ($39.9B) and Misc. mfg. prods. ($29B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Washington products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Washington state.

$323B

2020 Value

$444B

Projected 2045 Value

37.4% growth

In 2020, total outbound Washington trade was $323B. This is expected to increase 37.4% to $444B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Washington trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Washington to other states, or from other states to Washington.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. Oregon

    $29.1B

  2. California

    $15.8B

  3. Tennessee

    $10.3B

In 2015, the top outbound Washington domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Oregon with $29.1B, followed by California with $15.8B and Tennessee and $10.3B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Washington shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

93.8% of the population of Pierce County, WA has health coverage, with 45.8% on employee plans, 18.5% on Medicaid, 9.16% on Medicare, 14.9% on non-group plans, and 5.49% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Pierce County, WA was $7,913 in 2014. This is a 4% increase from the previous year ($7,609).

Primary care physicians in Pierce County, WA see 1423 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.32% decrease from the previous year (1442 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1272 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 258 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Garfield County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (14%). Additionally, Adams County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (36.4%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,423 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Pierce County, WA see an average of 1,423 patients per year. This represents a 1.32% decrease from the previous year (1,442 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Pierce County, WA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

$7,913

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,328

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,851

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,997

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Washington (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4%, from $7,609 to $7,913.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

6.22%

Uninsured

45.8%

Employer Coverage

18.5%

Medicaid

9.16%

Medicare

14.9%

Non-Group

5.49%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Pierce County, WA grew by 6.97% from 5.81% to 6.22%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Pierce County, WA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Garfield County

    14% prevalence

  2. Pend Oreille County

    13.6% prevalence

  3. Wahkiakum County

    13.4% prevalence

Garfield County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Washington, at 14%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Washington by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Pierce County, WA is home to a population of 891k people, from which 95.3% are citizens. As of 2017, 9.08% of Pierce County, WA residents were born outside of the country (79.6k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Pierce County, WA is composed of 589k White Alone residents (66.1%), 99.2k Hispanic or Latino residents (11.1%), 61.2k Two or More Races residents (6.87%), 58.8k Asian Alone residents (6.6%), 58.1k Black or African American Alone residents (6.52%), 12.9k Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (1.45%), 10.5k American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (1.18%), and 1.29k Some Other Race Alone residents (0.145%).

Age

Age by Nativity

35

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.3

44

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 1.4

In 2018, the median age of all people in Pierce County, WA was 36.4. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 35, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 44. But people in Pierce County, WA are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Pierce County, WA residents was 36.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

9.08%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

79.6k people

9.2%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

79.2k people

As of 2017, 9.08% of Pierce County, WA residents (79.6k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Pierce County, WA was 9.2%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Pierce County, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Washington.

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    256,836 ± 12,228 people

  2. India

    89,091 ± 7,285 people

  3. China

    79,210 ± 6,873 people

In 2018, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Washington was Mexico, the natal country of 256,836 Washington residents, followed by India with 89,091 and China with 79,210.

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Citizenship

95.3%

2018 Citizenship

96%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 95.3% of Pierce County, WA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Pierce County, WA was 96%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Pierce County, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    589k ± 986

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    99.2k ± 6.73k

  3. Two or More Races

    61.2k ± 5.66k

In 2018, there were 5.94 times more White Alone residents (589k people) in Pierce County, WA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 99.2k Hispanic or Latino and 61.2k Two or More Races residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Pierce County, WA as a share of the total population.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Gulf War (2001-)

    29,452 ± 2,957

  2. Vietnam

    21,886 ± 2,132

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    14,138 ± 1,672

Pierce County, WA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.35 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2017, universities in Pierce County, WA awarded 11,070 degrees. The student population of Pierce County, WA is skewed towards women, with 14,390 male students and 21,790 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Pierce County, WA are White (5,964 and 55.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (959 and 8.99%), Black or African American (899 and 8.43%), and Unknown (888 and 8.33%).

The largest universities in Pierce County, WA by number of degrees awarded are Tacoma Community College (1,894 and 17.1%), University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (1,716 and 15.5%), and Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom (1,674 and 15.1%).

The most popular majors in Pierce County, WA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (2,183 and 19.7%), General Business Administration & Management (385 and 3.48%), and Registered Nursing (322 and 2.91%).

The median tuition costs in Pierce County, WA are $40,352 for private four year colleges, and $4,488 and $7,197 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. General Business

    222 degrees awarded

  2. Registered Nursing

    153 degrees awarded

  3. Liberal Arts & Sciences

    2,183 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Pierce County, WA was General Business with 222 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Pierce County, WA according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. Tacoma Community College

    1,894 degrees awarded

  2. University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

    1,716 degrees awarded

  3. Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom

    1,674 degrees awarded

$4,488

Median In-State Public

$40,352

Median Private

In 2017, the Pierce County, WA institution with the largest number of graduating students was Tacoma Community College with 1,894 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

4,430

Degrees Awarded to Men

6,640

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 4,430 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Pierce County, WA, which is 0.667 times less than the 6,640 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Pierce County, WA by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    5,964 degrees awarded

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    959 degrees awarded

  3. Black or African American

    899 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Pierce County, WA were to White students. These 5,964 degrees mean that there were 6.22 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 959 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Pierce County, WA was $338,400 in 2018, which is 1.47 times larger than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $300,200 to $338,400, a 12.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Pierce County, WA is 62.8%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Pierce County, WA have an average commute time of 31.7 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Pierce County, WA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$338,400

2018 Median

± $4,857

$300,200

2017 Median

± $5,171

In 2018, the median property value in Pierce County, WA grew to to $338,400 from the previous year's value of $300,200.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Pierce County, WA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Pierce County, WA the largest share of households have a property value in the $300k - $400k range.

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$75,407

Median Household Income

± $1,954

329k

Number of Households

± 8,920

In 2018, the median household income of the 329k households in Pierce County, WA grew to $75,407 from the previous year's value of $69,278.

The following chart displays the households in Pierce County, WA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

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Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Pierce County, WA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Pierce County, WA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

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Rent vs Own

62.8%

2018 Homeownership

63.2%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 62.8% of the housing units in Pierce County, WA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 63.2%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Pierce County, WA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Commute Time

31.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Pierce County, WA have a longer commute time (31.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.7 minutes). Additionally, 6.68% of the workforce in Pierce County, WA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Pierce County, WA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    77.2%

  2. Carpooled

    9.73%

  3. Worked At Home

    5.73%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Pierce County, WA was Drove Alone (77.2%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.73%) and those who Worked At Home (5.73%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Pierce County, WA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Pierce County, WA have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

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