Which sections of Tacoma should I avoid when I move there? (Seattle: apartment complex, rent)

[Seahawksfan33]

I'm really planning on moving there soon since it's actually affordable. I've heard that there are some areas that I'd want to avoid. Where would be a good place to live there?

[253valerie]

University place isn't technically Tacoma, but it's very nice.
North Tacoma is more expensive, but again very nice.

My fist apartment was on 7th and MLK, while it wasn't as bad as I was told it would be, I'd still suggest avoiding that area.

[secret_squirrel]

I have learned to really like Tacoma. The best area is northwest of 6th Avenue: Stadium, Old Town, Proctor, Ruston - close to water is a good guide. I think the south side of 6th Ave seems like a bargain right now, too. Streets that are designate "N" (for north) are generally considered better than "S" or "E".

Although Hilltop/New Tacoma is improving, the area around People's Park and has experienced an upsurgence in drug activity lately (close to what 253Valerie mentioned - L,M,N streets, 9th, 10th, 11th, etc). Drive through the neighborhood, look at the condition of the multi-family housing and the cars in the area. It will be apparent. East Tacoma has some very sketch parts - but I don't never get there except for a great bar, Top of Tacoma. It seems ok to me, around there, but I don't have a lot of experience.

The city has a good geographical crime map: Crime Activity Map - City of Tacoma

Look at the history and see what you are comfortable with.

[trysometh]

Is there parts that dont have any jet noise or JBLM noise?

[DutchessCottonPuff]

Originally Posted by trysometh

Is there parts that dont have any jet noise or JBLM noise?

and to think I lived next door to Paine field On Casino in Everett for three years ... anyway .. yes I will pay it foreward ,, I had to leave there due to it being dangerous and became over priced for what it is and my budget .
Another poster suggested University Place in the Tacoma area for me and I could NOT be happier ( except that 95 year old neighbor we discussed ) . Lower rent for a WAY better apt really a beautiful home,,just a whole lot better neighborhood . It's really nice and I can see the sound from my house and Mt Rainer is right ON me from the back it looks like .
You can google the area.

[trysometh]

Originally Posted by DutchessCottonPuff

and to think I lived next door to Paine field On Casino in Everett for three years ... anyway .. yes I will pay it foreward ,, I had to leave there due to it being dangerous and became over priced for what it is and my budget .
Another poster suggested University Place in the Tacoma area for me and I could NOT be happier ( except that 95 year old neighbor we discussed ) . Lower rent for a WAY better apt really a beautiful home,,just a whole lot better neighborhood . It's really nice and I can see the sound from my house and Mt Rainer is right ON me from the back it looks like .
You can google the area.

not much noise in university place?

[DutchessCottonPuff]

No very quiet .. the occasional kid in a ( fancy) hot rod but really very very quiet here .

[RotseCherut]

Avoid East Tacoma, Fife, anywhere with a large amount of factories, warehouses, barbed wire fences and where you see groups of young males hanging out on street corners for extended periods of times. South Tacoma has some dodgy and dicey areas. Lakewood is another area with many neighborhoods you are best avoiding. I'd say Lakewood and parts of Southeast has some of the nastiest neighborhoods in the Puget Sound. Kent also is kinds grimey and nasty in certain areas, but that is not Tacoma.

Just so you know anywhere in Tacoma can be sketchy, outside of the North Tacoma neighborhoods. There is a lot of mentality disturbed people wandering around Tacoma and armed robbers and thieves do not necessarily discriminate to their own neighborhoods. A wealthy guy was gunned down for his BMW in his own gated apartment complex in the reputable Stadium district. This is just to show you that crime in Tacoma extends throughout the city and not just confined to the worst hoods of town. I've always thought Tacoma's criminal element is rather low key and the crime in Tacoma is quite deceptive to other cities.


Nobody could mistake a bad section of Inglewood or Watts for being a dangerous hood, but there are parts of Tacoma that people take for granted as dangerous.

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by secret_squirrel

Although Hilltop/New Tacoma is improving, the area around People's Park and has experienced an upsurgence in drug activity lately (close to what 253Valerie mentioned - L,M,N streets, 9th, 10th, 11th, etc). Drive through the neighborhood, look at the condition of the multi-family housing and the cars in the area. It will be apparent. East Tacoma has some very sketch parts - but I don't never get there except for a great bar, Top of Tacoma. It seems ok to me, around there, but I don't have a lot of experience.
The city has a good geographical crime map: Crime Activity Map - City of Tacoma

That map was pretty helpful...I saw an apt complex in the 2400s of S.96th and there didn't seem to show much crime around here other than a couple break ins or thefts.

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by RotseCherut

Just so you know anywhere in Tacoma can be sketchy, outside of the North Tacoma neighborhoods. There is a lot of mentality disturbed people wandering around Tacoma and armed robbers and thieves do not necessarily discriminate to their own neighborhoods. A wealthy guy was gunned down for his BMW in his own gated apartment complex in the reputable Stadium district. This is just to show you that crime in Tacoma extends throughout the city and not just confined to the worst hoods of town. I've always thought Tacoma's criminal element is rather low key and the crime in Tacoma is quite deceptive to other cities.

Ahh good old deceptive WA Are there any good sources of crime news there,or did you find out about the BMW shooting on Seattle news or something?...