Real Estate Investing in Puyallup, Washington (98373)

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

Pierce County • Population: 29,062 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98373 (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 (98373)?

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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 $571,638
Avg Monthly Rent $1,988
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $93,201
% Renters 43.2%

Market Analysis: 98373 Puyallup

The 98373 ZIP in Puyallup, WA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $572K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 98373 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 98373 and stronger Puyallup ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A solid renter share of 43% in 98373 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,988/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 98373

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$134,471/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $387,042 $2,120 3.9% +4.9% $193,521
3BR $535,547 $2,940 4.0% +5.8% $178,516
4BR $631,350 $3,340 3.8% +5.9% $157,838
5BR $672,354 +5.1% $134,471

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$607K$521K$435K$348K$262K$176KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,083$1,968$1,854$1,739$1,624$1,510Feb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98373 Compare?

Metric 98373 Puyallup Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $571,638 $593,658 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.4% 2.6% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,988 $2,257 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98373? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 43% 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 98373 (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
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HOA Community Solutions provides management services for homeowner associations. summary from their website

HOA
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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
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $571,638
Monthly Rent $1,988
Price-to-Rent 24.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 5.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
2.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98373

Population: 29,062

💰 Median Household Income
$93,201
This area
$93,201
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
43.2%
This area
43.2%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.5%
This area
25.5%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.2 years
This area
34.2 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.2%
Other/Mixed 19.2%
Hispanic/Latino 8.0%
Asian 6.4%
Black/African American 4.2%
👶 Under 18
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.0%
This area
11.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
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 98373

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
18.3:1 Avg Class Size
$18,479 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Edward Zeiger Elem

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
476 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Firgrove Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
631 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Woodland Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Puyallup Online Academy/POA

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
180 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
106 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B Good

Ballou Jr High

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
863 Students
👨‍🏫
22.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
C+ Average

Gov John Rogers High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,750 Students
👨‍🏫
23.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
C Below Average

Puyallup Open Doors/POD

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
91 Students
👨‍🏫
25.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Central Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 4608 128th ST E, Tacoma
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,076 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Naches Trail Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 15305 Waller Road East, Tacoma
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Clover Creek Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 16715 36th Avenue East, Tacoma
👥
635 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 16720 Waller Rd E, Tacoma
👥
600 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
B Good

Naches Trail Preschool

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 15305 Waller Rd E, Tacoma
👥
123 Students
💰
$18,928 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 4,093 Off-Campus Students
D
UEI College-Tacoma
557 students · 5.1 mi
C+
Pacific Lutheran University
2,737 students · 5.4 mi
C
Clover Park Technical College
3,040 students · 8.4 mi
C+
BJ's Beauty & Barber College
26 students · 8.5 mi
B
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4,777 students · 8.6 mi
C
Summit Salon Academy
148 students · 8.7 mi
D
Northwest College of Art & Design
150 students · 9.0 mi
C
Bates Technical College
3,817 students · 9.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,093 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup, WA median home values land near $572K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,988/mo-per-month rentals.

What kind of tenants rent in Puyallup, WA?

Tenant demand in Puyallup, WA is solid. The local workforce $1,988/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Puyallup, WA suited for a house hack?

House hacking works a challenging in Puyallup, WA. Rents of $1,988/mo against $572K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is Puyallup, WA a friendly market for rental owners?

Rental owners in Puyallup, WA deal with a tenant-protective legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What is the typical rental rate in Puyallup, WA?

Rent in Puyallup, WA is around $1,988/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $572K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

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How 98373 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

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