Real Estate Investing in Puyallup, Washington (98374)

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

Pierce County • Population: 47,645 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98374 (Puyallup, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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 (98374)?

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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 $586,725
Avg Monthly Rent $2,473
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $106,157
% Renters 28.1%

Market Analysis: 98374 Puyallup

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 98374 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $587K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 98374 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $587K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Statewide comparisons place 98374 among WA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 98374 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 98374 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,473/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
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 98374

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$136,382/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $415,759 $2,230 3.9% +5.0% $207,880
3BR $528,818 $3,090 4.2% +6.0% $176,273
4BR $616,462 $3,510 4.1% +6.0% $154,115
5BR $681,910 +5.6% $136,382

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$624K$535K$447K$359K$270K$182KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,660$2,405$2,150$1,896$1,641$1,387Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98374 Compare?

Metric 98374 Puyallup Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $586,725 $593,658 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.8% 2.6% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,473 $2,257 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98374? Click to expand

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

📊 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 98374 (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
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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
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.8%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $586,725
Monthly Rent $2,473
Price-to-Rent 19.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 6.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
4.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98374

Population: 47,645

💰 Median Household Income
$106,157
This area
$106,157
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.1%
This area
28.1%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.7%
This area
28.7%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.6 years
This area
36.6 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.5%
Other/Mixed 19.0%
Hispanic/Latino 7.7%
Asian 5.9%
Black/African American 2.6%
👶 Under 18
27.4%
This area
27.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
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 98374

B+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
18.0:1 Avg Class Size
$18,479 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Wildwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

G W Edgerton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
757 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Pope Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
735 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Ridgecrest Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
466 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Sunrise Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
700 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Warren Hunt Elem

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

Ferrucci Jr High

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
828 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Glacier View Junior High

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
846 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 Per Student
C+ Average

Emerald Ridge High School

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
1,571 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,479 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 · 8.2 mi
C+
Pacific Lutheran University
2,737 students · 8.5 mi
B
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4,777 students · 11.5 mi
C
Clover Park Technical College
3,040 students · 11.6 mi
C+
BJ's Beauty & Barber College
26 students · 11.8 mi
C
Summit Salon Academy
148 students · 11.9 mi
D
Northwest College of Art & Design
150 students · 11.9 mi
C
Bates Technical College
3,817 students · 12.1 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 smart move for investors in Puyallup, WA?

Most investors in Puyallup, WA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is vacancy a concern in Puyallup, WA?

Rental vacancy in Puyallup, WA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is Puyallup, WA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Puyallup, WA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $587K median home values and $2,473/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting stable returns.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Puyallup, WA?

For rental operators, Puyallup, WA rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Where do home prices stand in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup, WA home values average about $587K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $2,473/mo in monthly income.

You know 98374 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98374 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 98374 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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