Tacoma Apartments and Rentals

Situated almost exactly between Seattle and Olympia, "The City of Destiny" prides itself on hitting that sweet spot between overwhelmingly urban and unenthusiastically empty. This is a reasonably sized place, where nature and creativity combine to create a human-scale city. To make your mark in this Puget Sound metropolis, all you need is a Tacoma apartment. Rent.com is ready to help.

Job Carr built a pioneer cabin along this part Puget Sound back in 1864. He wasn't the first area resident by a long shot, but his claim led to the development of "Tacoma City." That new moniker came from the tribal name for Mount Rainier, which looms to the southeast. When Commencement Bay was selected as the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1873, Tacoma became "the City of Destiny" where "the rails met the sails." The resulting boom made Tacoma massive, but the city later slipped into an equally impressive downhill slide. Residents rallied together to earn Tacoma a renaissance in the 1990s. Since then, the city has sprung back to life.

Today, Downtown Tacoma is a mix of contemporary styles, historic structures, and pedestrian-friendly avenues. Old Town features cute coffee shops and good local restaurants. The Stadium District and Fircrest are known for being safe. Puyallup, outside the city limits, is better for those on a tight budget.

Tacoma was for many years associated with the gritty Simpson Kraft pulp mill, which added its distinctive aroma to the air. That's cleaned up along with much of the city. Now, True Blue Inc., Simpson, Roman Meal, and Brown and Haley join the list of companies operating headquarters in Tacoma. There's also an oil refinery at work in the Port of Tacoma.

For prospective students, the University of Washington operates a Tacoma campus. The University of Puget Sound, Tacoma Community College, City University of Seattle-Tacoma, and a handful of other schools also offer enrolment in the area.

Tacoma is a city where expenses run slightly higher than the national norm. Renting a two-bedroom apartment in Tacoma will cost you an average of $921 a month, for example. Near seven percent of residential properties in the city are vacant. That's enough availability to keep finding a rental from being too challenging.

Tacoma's reinvigorated Downtown is busy with unique boutiques, fine dining, and fascinating cultural experiences. The Museum of Glass features the work of world-renowned local artist Dale Chihuly. There's also the Washington State History Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum. America's Car Museum plans to open its doors in Tacoma in the near future.

If you feel like being part of an active audience, the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts hosts the city's opera, symphony, ballet, and more. There's a thriving theater district in Tacoma as well, with the Pantages Theater serving as the local heavyweight. Point Defiance Park, northwest of Ruston, is one of the largest urban parks in the United States.

If you're looking for a weekend activity in Tacoma, keep an ear out for the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival. Immediately following that, you can catch April's Daffodil Parade, which partially takes place in town. On the 4th of July, there's the Freedom Fair, as well.

To get settled in a new Tacoma apartment, start looking through the listings here on Rent.com®. It's our job to help you feel at home.