Tacoma School · National Register of Historic Places
Tacoma’s story
136 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 maps from 1921 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1890Tacoma is settled
TacomaVA
The town, settled in 1890, counts 131 residents.
Tacoma School · Photo: James Shelton32 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
131
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$106K
Census ACS
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
33.6
years
Jobs based here
1
A commuter town
Is Tacoma a good place to live?
10% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Tacoma, where Virginia’s towns sit at 44% and U.S. towns at 29%. Only one of the 254 Virginia towns we compare has a lower midsummer high than Tacoma. Tacoma School is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tacoma has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
131 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Tacoma: who provides what
Tacoma is unincorporated, so Wise County and regional agencies provide most services.
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesWise CountyWise County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Virginia you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 11 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWise General RegistrarWise County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code2423024230 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Tacoma.
Work & commute
Most of Tacoma’s workers head elsewhere: there are 0.0 jobs for each of them
The median commute is under 5 miles. Employers in Tacoma shed 43 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1. The top destinations are Wise (27%), Norton (22%) and Big Stone Gap (6%).
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Tacoma0%
Wise27%
Norton22%
Big Stone Gap6%
Lebanon3%
5 mi
median commute distance
1
jobs based in Tacoma
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
The FEMA risk score in Tacoma is higher than in the typical Virginia or U.S. town
Expected losses in Tacoma break down as 73% from inland flooding and 17% from cold waves.
78risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Tacoma, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
The range runs from 24° on a January night to 80° on a July afternoon, with about 47 inches of snow a winter.
47″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–44°
Spring42–63°
Summer60–79°
Fall44–65°
Oct 18
typical first frost
Apr 25
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Tacoma stands out in Virginia and nationally: a larger share of its adults smoke cigarettes
Only 3 of the 254 Virginia towns we compare have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Tacoma. 33% of adults get no exercise outside work in Tacoma.
| Tacoma | Typical Virginia town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 12% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 12% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 11% | 12% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 34% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Virginia
0 better11 too close to call21 worse
| What stands out | Tacoma | VA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 11.9% | 6.2% |
| More smokers | 21.6% | 12.2% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.2% | 6.1% |
Lonesome Pine Hospital
13.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Tacoma
15pages on Tacoma
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Tacoma
University of Virginia's College at WiseUniversity or college · Public · Wise2.9 mi$11,780 in-state tuitionMountain Empire Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Big Stone Gap13.8 mi$5,007 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Tacoma residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Tacoma for work
Where Tacoma’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1jobs based in Tacoma
0%of working residents work in town
5 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Tacoma
Census-designated place in Virginia, United States
Tacoma is a Census-designated place and coal town located in Wise County, Virginia, United States with a population of 204 at the 2020 census. It is located within the town of Coeburn.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Elevation
- 2,008 ft
Questions about Tacoma
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Tacoma, VA a good place to live?
Tacoma has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.