Lake Tapps, United States Aug 17, 2021 07-40-07 PM, 2021
Lake Tapps’s story
136 years in pictures
The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 2021 and 4 maps from 1956 on.
- 1890Lake Tapps is settled
Lake TappsWA
Public schools that outperform most of Washington.
Population
12,798
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$742K
Census ACS
Household income
$148K
median
Median age
42.2
years
Jobs based here
1,109
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#69 of 285 in WA
Is Lake Tapps a good place to live?
A good place to live, if you can afford it. Its strongest is incomes (A+): the median household earns $148K. With a B+ overall, Lake Tapps is better than 65% of U.S. towns and ranks 69th of 285 in Washington. Schools are another plus — its schools rank ahead of 90% of Washington towns. The trade-off is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $742K, 6.4 years of the Seattle metro’s $115K median household income. The biggest park or preserve is North Lake Tapps Park, at 197 acres. Lake Tapps’ average commute is 37 minutes, where Washington’s towns sit at 27 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 71% of U.S. towns.
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Lake Tapps stand out
Where Lake Tapps beats most towns.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Lake Tapps for work
Where Lake Tapps’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,109jobs based in Lake Tapps
2%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Lake Tapps grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Lake Tapps is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for jobs and income (better than 96% of comparable towns) to D for cost of living (better than 7%), so the B+ overall blends very different results.
Jobs & incomeIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA+Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesDOpen →SchoolsSchools rank among the strongest comparedAOpen →HealthMulticare Good Samaritan Hospital 6.3 miles awayA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.9 of 20; 1.3% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4 miles of trails; 1% conserved landB−Open →HistoryIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 151 attractions →Space Needle and 132 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lake Tapps. Close and well known come first.
Big draw29 mi LookoutSpace Needle
Big draw27 mi Stadium & arenaLumen Field
Big draw29 mi Stadium & arenaClimate Pledge Arena
27 mi Stadium & arenaT-Mobile Park
8 mi Theme parkWild Waves Theme Park
12 mi Stadium & arenaTacoma DomeSources: 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 · T-Mobile Park: MyName (Cacophony), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wild Waves Theme Park: Jessica Spengler from Hove, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 · Tacoma Dome: Broran28, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Lake Tapps: who provides what
Lake Tapps is unincorporated, so Pierce County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPuget Sound Energy17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBonney Lake Water Department CityNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesPierce CountyPierce County provides services here
SchoolsDieringer School DistrictSumner School District2 districts serve Lake Tapps; 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 code9839198391 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 Lake Tapps.
Lake Tapps has cooler summers than nearly all U.S. towns, sends most of its workers to Seattle and beyond and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
SchoolsA
Lake Tapps earns an A for schools
That grade comes with a D for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $742K.
One of its 4 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. The Dieringer School District runs its public schools.
90%of WA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Tapps Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 523 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Residents of Lake Tapps are healthier than 77% of U.S. towns
Against the 2,880 U.S. towns with household incomes like Lake Tapps’s, it is less healthy than 77%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Lake Tapps: 27% of adults have been diagnosed with depression. CDC measures, 31 in all: Lake Tapps beats Washington on 6 and trails on 5.
77%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Lake Tapps | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 25% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 71% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 26% | 23% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
31 measures vs. Washington
6 better20 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Lake Tapps | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.9% | 8.4% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.1% | 10.2% |
| More adults with obesity | 36.2% | 30.6% |
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital
6.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
54th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Most people working in Lake Tapps commute elsewhere
Lake Tapps has 1,109 jobs for its 5,869 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. The average commute takes 36.5 minutes, against 26.6 across Washington.
Nearly a fifth of workers work from home in Lake Tapps. Just 2% of the town’s working residents have a job in town. Since 2013, Lake Tapps has added 149 jobs, to 1,109 in 2023. The top destinations are Seattle (12%), Auburn (10%) and Kent (8%).
2%work in town
| Lake Tapps | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 37 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $148,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 19% | 15% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Lake Tapps2%
Seattle12%
Auburn10%
Kent8%
Tacoma8%
14 mi
median commute distance
1,109
jobs based in Lake Tapps
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 29% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Washington overall
The median household earns $148,005, against $98,141 across Washington, one input to its A+ for jobs and income.
Adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (24% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 44% of residents (38% statewide). The share of adults 25 and older in Lake Tapps who hold a bachelor’s degree or more: 42%.
42.2median age · WA 38.3
| Lake Tapps | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 30% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 25% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 42.2 years | 38.5 years | 40.5 years |
Lake TappsWashingtonUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school20%
Some college22%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
49.2% women, 50.8% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±0.8 points. Across Washington, 49.6% of residents are women.
| Lake Tapps | WA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.9% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.9% | 9.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.6% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.9% | 15.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.2% | 14.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 16.1% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.3% | 12% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.5% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.6% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.1% | 7.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 19.7% | 21.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.1% | 21% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.1% | 10% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.3% | 24% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.8% | 15.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Lake Tapps
July afternoons average 76.6°, cooler than in 97% of U.S. towns; January nights average 35.1°.
Lake Tapps’ July high comes in at 77°F. About 4 inches of snow falls in a winter.
4″snow a winter
| Lake Tapps | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 77°F | 77°F | 85°F |
| January low | 35°F | 35°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–47°
Spring41–59°
Summer53–74°
Fall44–60°
Oct 30
typical first frost
Apr 7
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Lake Tapps, mostly earthquakes
Compared with nearly three fifths of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in Lake Tapps is higher. One flood insurance claim has been paid in the town since 2009. 47% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from earthquakes, followed by inland flooding at 34%.
59risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2009
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsB−
Lake Tapps keeps 0.9% of its land conserved
Walkers can cover 3.7 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. In Lake Tapps, the density of trails is 0.3 miles per square mile.
#211for trails in WA
| Lake Tapps | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.9% | 4% | 4.3% |
0.9%
conserved · 75 of 8,271 acres
3.7 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. North Lake Tapps Park | 0.4 mi | 197 |
| 2. Bankers Spit | — | 7 |
| 3. West Tapps HOA Ball Fields | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade D
A home in Lake Tapps sells for about $975K at the median
The median property tax bill is $7,510, against $4,556 across Washington, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
Lake Tapps’ going rate for rent stands at $2,091 a month. For households in the town, the share who own their home is 89%. On the market in the town: a median 32 days to sell.
$975Kmedian sale price
| Lake Tapps | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,091 a month | $1,737 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 89% | 70% | 73% |
Market temperature
32
days on market
98.8%
sale-to-list price
22
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lake Tapps
17pages on Lake Tapps
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
7 within 15 miles of the center of Lake Tapps
Green River CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Auburn6.5 mi$4,711 in-state tuitionUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusUniversity or college · Public · Tacoma12.7 mi$13,168 in-state tuitionNorthwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Tacoma12.8 mi$18,100 tuition
About 5 of every 100 Lake Tapps residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington.
About Lake Tapps
Unincorporated community & CDP in Washington, United States
Lake Tapps is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Pierce County, Washington, United States.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Lake Tapps’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Lake Tapps.
It grades higher overall than all 3 graded towns on its borders; Bonney Lake (B) comes closest.
Bonney LakeAuburnSumnerLake Tapps
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tapps | #69 | B+ | D | — | A | A− |
| Bonney Lake | #75 | B | C− | C+ | A | B+ |
| Auburn | #214 | C− | D | D | B− | A− |
| Sumner | #159 | C+ | D | D | A | B |
Lake Tapps reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Lake Tapps with a neighbor →
Questions about Lake Tapps
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lake Tapps, WA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Lake Tapps grades B+ overall, better than 65% of U.S. towns and #69 of 285 in Washington. It grades A− for health and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Lake Tapps, WA expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $742,000, 26% above the Washington typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.