Reservation Yard, 1899
Fife’s story
126 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,463 in 1960, 10,999 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1899 and 5 maps from 1941 on.
- 1900Fife is settled
FifeWA
A town of 11,061, settled in 1900.
Population
11,061
2025 Census estimate · +1% since 2020
Typical home
$547K
−0.4% in a year
Household income
$91K
median
Median age
31.3
years
Jobs based here
18,657
A job hub
TownGrade
C−
#226 of 285 in WA
What should you know before moving to Fife?
Fife's police reported 107 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 99% of U.S. towns. Overall it grades C−, 226th of 285 graded towns in Washington. It has 6 miles of trail and it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 77% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 91% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. Fife’s violent crime rate is 9.7 per 1,000 residents, against 1.5 in Washington’s towns and 1.6 across U.S. towns. On safety, just 2 of Washington’s 141 towns do worse. Fife's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 92% of U.S. towns.
What makes Fife stand out
Where Fife beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here18,657
Residents who work5,209
Work
3.6 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Fife9.7
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Worth knowing · SafetyD−
3.3 times the violent crime than WA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
A growing town
Fife has grown 21% since 2010
9,173 counted in 2010 and 10,999 in 2020; an estimated 11,061 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Fife grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Fife is from typical.
SafetyMore crime per resident than almost any U.S. townD−Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.2 of 20; 3% of households have no car; 2.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthSt. Francis Community Hospital 4.4 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$91K median household incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3% conserved landA−Open →History2 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 31.3; 28% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 151 attractions →Space Needle and 128 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Fife. Close and well known come first.
Big draw27 mi LookoutSpace Needle
Big draw25 mi Stadium & arenaLumen Field
Big draw27 mi Stadium & arenaClimate Pledge Arena
4 mi Stadium & arenaTacoma Dome
3 mi Theme parkWild Waves Theme Park
25 mi Stadium & arenaT-Mobile ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Space Needle: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lumen Field: "Smart Destinations", GoSeattleCard.com, and Go Seattle Card Blog, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Climate Pledge Arena: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tacoma Dome: Broran28, Public domain · Wild Waves Theme Park: Jessica Spengler from Hove, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 · T-Mobile Park: MyName (Cacophony), CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Fife: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Fife, and how to reach them.
PowerPeninsula Light Company11.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterFife Dept of Public WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Fife’s trash rules yet
SchoolsFife Public SchoolsPuyallup School District2 districts serve Fife; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Washington you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePierce County AuditorPierce County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2024
ZIP code9842498424 99%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 Fife.
Fife draws workers from Tacoma and beyond and has fewer 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, but it reports violent crime at 3 times the Washington rate.
SafetyD−
More crime per resident than almost any U.S. town
Violent crime runs at 9.7 per 1,000 residents, 3 times the Washington rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D−. Reported crimes fell from 1,221 to 515 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Fife reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 99% report less. The property crime rate in Fife is 36.8 per 1,000 residents.
1%of U.S. towns report more crimeD−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Fife9.7
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Fife36.8
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
1st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
2nd
percentile among WA towns
107
violent crimes reported in 2025
408
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB+
On state tests, Fife’s schools beat 69% of Washington districts
Its public schools are run by the Fife School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Fife High School, with 885 students.
69%of WA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fife Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 866 | – |
| Fife High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 10–12 | Grades 10–12 | 885 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Most working residents commute out of Fife
18,657 jobs are based in Fife, 3.6 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.
Most working residents leave Fife for work: only 9% work in town. Jobs based in Fife grew to 18,657 in 2023, 3,409 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Seattle (14%), Tacoma (13%) and Kent (5%).
9%work in town
| Fife | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 11% | 15% | 11% |
| Median household income | $91,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 8.7% | 4.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Fife9%
Seattle14%
Tacoma13%
Kent5%
Federal Way5%
13 mi
median commute distance
18,657
jobs based in Fife
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 77% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Fife, with earthquakes at the top
Since 1996, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Fife.
91risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingVolcanic activity
4
paid flood claims since 1996
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsA−
3.2% of Fife is conserved land
6.3 miles of trail in 9 parks and preserves. Fife’s trail density is 1.1 miles per square mile.
#108for trails in WA
| Fife | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.1 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.2% | 4% | 4.3% |
3.2%
conserved · 123 of 3,793 acres
6.3 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dacca Park | 0.6 mi | 11 |
| 2. Brookville Gardens Park | 0.5 mi | 14 |
| 3. 5 Acre Park | 0.5 mi | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Fife
The Seattle Tacoma Intl Ap weather station, 15 miles away, records that about 4 days a year reach 90°, fewer than in 98% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 77.4°, cooler than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 35.8°.
Fife has mild winters and pleasant summers. About 6 inches of snow falls in a winter.
6″snow a winter
| Fife | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 77°F | 77°F | 85°F |
| January low | 36°F | 35°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–48°
Spring42–60°
Summer54–75°
Fall44–61°
Nov 14
typical first frost
Mar 8
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB+
Fife is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns
Within Washington it is less healthy than 65% of the 285 graded towns: Washington sets a high bar.
Fife beats the Washington average on 7 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 16. 68% of Fife adults had a checkup this year. No town among the 285 in Washington we compare has a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Fife.
65%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Fife | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 68% | 71% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 33% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 17% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 35% |
31 measures vs. Washington
7 better8 too close to call16 worse
| What stands out | Fife | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 14.9% | 9.9% |
St. Francis Community Hospital
4.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
35th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D
Homes in Fife are worth about $547K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Fife home is worth about $547,000, about the same as a year ago, 7% below the Washington typical home. 46% of households own their home in Fife.
$547KZillow home value
| Fife | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 46% | 71% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,889 a month | $1,737 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Fife$547K
Washington$588K
−0.4%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fife
20pages on Fife
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 69% of WA districts · 5 schoolsSafetyD−9.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than WA on 7 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$547K typical home · down 0.4% in a yearWork & commuteB$91K median household income · 18,657 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 91% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Fife
University of Washington-Tacoma CampusUniversity or college · Public · Tacoma4.2 mi$13,168 in-state tuitionNorthwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Tacoma4.4 mi$18,100 tuitionBates Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Tacoma4.7 mi$6,027 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Fife residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington.
A job hub
Every workday, about 18,204 people come to Fife for work
Where Fife’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
18,657jobs based in Fife
9%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Fife’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Fife.
TacomaFife HeightsEdgewoodMiltonPuyallupWallerFife
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fife | #226 | C− | D | D− | B+ | B+ |
| Tacoma | #234 | C− | C− | D− | C+ | B |
| Fife Heights | — | — | D | — | B− | C |
| Edgewood | #132 | B− | D | C | B+ | A− |
| Milton | #210 | C− | D | C− | B− | B |
| Puyallup | #195 | C | C− | D | B+ | B |
| Waller | #105 | B | C | — | B+ | B |
Fife Heights has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Fife Heights and Waller report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Fife with a neighbor →
Questions about Fife
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Fife, WA a good place to live?
Fife grades C− overall, better than 21% of U.S. towns and #226 of 285 in Washington. It grades B+ for health, D− for safety and B+ for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Fife, WA expensive?
Yes. That is 4.8 years of the area's median household income ($115,177 across the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Fife, WA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Lorenzo Ramos and Mark Emmert.