Real Estate Investing in Puyallup, Washington (98372)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Pierce County • Population: 26,662 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98372 (Puyallup, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Puyallup, WA (98372)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $628,693
Avg Monthly Rent $2,120
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,144
% Renters 47.7%

Market Analysis: 98372 Puyallup

This part of Pierce County is not an easy win. The 98372 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $629K asset, 98372 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within WA, ZIP 98372 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Pierce County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 98372 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 98372 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $629K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Puyallup:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,120/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
45 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.2%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98372

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$160,321/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $315,753 $1,700 3.9% +4.2% $315,753
2BR $400,163 $2,090 3.8% +4.9% $200,081
3BR $600,093 $2,900 3.5% +6.0% $200,031
4BR $734,217 $3,290 3.2% +6.1% $183,554
5BR $801,605 +6.4% $160,321

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$671K$575K$478K$382K$286K$189KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,176$2,058$1,941$1,823$1,706$1,588Mar 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98372 Compare?

Metric 98372 Puyallup Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $628,693 $593,658 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.6% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,120 $2,257 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98372? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 48% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98372 (Puyallup, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Pierce County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Harborside Property Management LLC offers commercial and residential property manager services in Tacoma & Gig Harbor, including single-family and multi-family homes. summary from their website

CommercialSingle-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Haven Property Management is a full-service residential management company based in Federal Way, WA, covering the Greater Puget Sound area. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

HOA Community Solutions provides management services for homeowner associations. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $628,693
Monthly Rent $2,120
Price-to-Rent 24.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 5.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
3.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98372

Population: 26,662

💰 Median Household Income
$94,144
This area
$94,144
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
47.7%
This area
47.7%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.1%
This area
27.1%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.6 years
This area
37.6 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.9%
Other/Mixed 14.2%
Asian 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.6%
Black/African American 1.9%
👶 Under 18
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.1%
This area
14.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 98372

A Avg School Grade
8 Schools
16.3:1 Avg Class Size
$19,891 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Stewart Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
319 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Hedden Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
475 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$29,777 Per Student
A Very Good

Spinning Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
296 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Shaw Road Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mt View Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
262 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Edgemont Jr High

📚 06 – 09 High School
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B+ Above Average

E B Walker High School

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
126 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B Good

Kalles Junior High

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
799 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Meeker Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 409 5th St SW, Puyallup
👥
368 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Bonney Lake Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 18715 80th St E, Bonney Lake
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,617 Per Student
A Very Good

Crestwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3914 W Tapps Dr E, Bonney Lake
👥
417 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,617 Per Student
A Very Good

Karshner Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 1328 8th Ave NW, Puyallup
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Liberty Ridge Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 12202 209th AVE CT E, Sumner
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,617 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 8,061 Off-Campus Students
D
UEI College-Tacoma
557 students · 6.7 mi
C
KaiStar
151 students · 8.1 mi
B
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4,777 students · 8.5 mi
C+
Green River College
7,361 students · 8.6 mi
D
Northwest College of Art & Design
150 students · 8.7 mi
C
Bates Technical College
3,817 students · 9.0 mi
C+
Pacific Lutheran University
2,737 students · 9.2 mi
C
Summit Salon Academy
148 students · 9.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,061 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Puyallup, WA?

In Puyallup, WA the median home value sits at $629K. Against the broader WA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What are vacancy rates like in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup, WA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader WA rental market.

What is the best play in Puyallup, WA?

For Puyallup, WA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Does Puyallup, WA favor landlords or tenants?

Puyallup, WA operates under WA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect predictable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the renter demographic in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup, WA offers a steady renter base at the $2,120/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

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How 98372 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

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