Clark County vs Pierce County
Clark County, Washington versus Pierce County, Washington: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Clark County edges out Pierce County on overall objective livability (51 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Clark County | Pierce County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $90k | $91k |
| Cost of Living | $61k | $56k |
| Home Value | $453k | $445k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $126k | $221k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.86% | 0.98% |
| Income Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.38% | 9.38% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 7.43% | 7.86% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 5.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 41°F | 42°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 67°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7 in | 44.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7 in | 6.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 171 days | 212 days |
| Summer Humidity | 54°F | 52°F |
| Comfortable Days | 123 days | 116 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 92.2 | 98.5 |
| Air Quality | 35 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 89.2 | 77.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1252/100k | 1331/100k |
| Property Crime | 3109/100k | 4481/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 504,091 | 918,993 |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 36.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.36 | 0.51 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+12 |
| White (%) | 75.4% | 63.7% |
| Black (%) | 1.9% | 6.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 10.7% | 11.9% |
| Asian (%) | 4.6% | 6.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 7.3% | 11.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 26 min | 32 min |
| Walkability | 10.5/20 | 9.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 15 mi | 28 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 93.2% | 92.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 1.71 | 0.47 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Clark County or Pierce County more affordable?
- Pierce County has the lower cost of living: its index is $56k, compared with Clark County's $61k and Pierce County's $56k. Median rent is $2k in Clark County versus $2k in Pierce County.
- Is Clark County or Pierce County safer?
- Clark County has the lower violent crime rate. Clark County reports 1252/100k and Pierce County reports 1331/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Clark County or Pierce County?
- The median home value is $453k in Clark County and $445k in Pierce County, so homes are more affordable in Pierce County.