The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in South Tacoma

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in South Tacoma.

 

South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

F

Overall Crime Grade™

D-
F
Other Crime Grade
F

$42.5 million

Cost of Crime™ for South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

In 2025, crime will cost $2,982 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in South Tacoma in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA Safe?

The F grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US neighborhood. South Tacoma ranks in the 2nd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 2% of neighborhoods but less safe than 98%. This analysis applies only to South Tacoma's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby neighborhoods.

The crime rate in South Tacoma is 112.3 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. South Tacoma Residents generally consider the west part of the neighborhood to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in South Tacoma varies by area - ranging from 1 in 3 in the northeast areas to 1 in 16 in the west.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the northeast parts of South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA see the most incidents - about 858 per year. In contrast, the west part of the neighborhood has the fewest, with approximately 283 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

The total projected cost of crime in South Tacoma for 2025 is $42,536,632. This translates to approximately $1,260 per resident and $2,982 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 3.3% of the median household income in South Tacoma. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 59.0%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 30.8%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 10.2%

How Much Does Crime Cost in South Tacoma Compared to Other Neighborhoods?

South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA: $1260
New Tacoma, Tacoma, WA: $1762
Moran Prairie, Spokane, WA: $324
Washington: $610
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in South Tacoma is $1,260 per year, which is $795 more than the national average and $649 more than Tacoma's city average. Below we compare neighborhoods similar to South Tacoma:
  • In New Tacoma, Tacoma, WA, crime costs $1,762 per person, which is $502 more than in South Tacoma.
  • In Moran Prairie, Spokane, WA, crime costs $324 per person, which is $936 less than in South Tacoma

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of South Tacoma for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to South Tacoma
Cost per South Tacoma Resident
Murder
$4.06 million
$120
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.61 million
$48
Robbery
$2.12 million
$63
Assault
$5.94 million
$176
Kidnapping
$496,505
$15
Vehicle Theft
$9.74 million
$288
Burglary
$3.36 million
$99
Theft
$7.15 million
$212
Arson
$167,927
$5
Vandalism
$6.47 million
$192
Animal Cruelty
$27,794
$1
Drug Crimes
$504,919
$15
Identity Theft
$898,066
$27
Total Cost of Crime
$42,536,632
$1,260

The Intangible Cost of Crime in South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in South Tacoma totals $37,366,951 ($1,107 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $79,903,583 ($2,366 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the South Tacoma crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the northeast part of the neighborhood has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which South Tacoma has 3, have the same problem. Of South Tacoma’s 33,770 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA at ISP Reports.

South Tacoma Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 South Tacoma residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
6.127
Robbery
1.992
Rape
0.7862
Murder
0.0639
Total Violent Crime
8.969 (D-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
40.91
Vehicle Theft
18.62
Burglary
10.96
Arson
0.2059
Total Property Crime
70.69 (F)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.2425
Drug Crimes
2.021
Vandalism
26.81
Identity Theft
3.436
Animal Cruelty
0.1113
Total "Other" Rate
32.62 (F)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Neighborhoods

Compared to surrounding neighborhoods, the rate of crime in South Tacoma is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for neighborhoods close to South Tacoma.

Nearby Neighborhood
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
F
D
F
F
D-
F
D-
D+
D-
F
F
F
D+
C
D
D+
B-
D+
F
D-
F
C-
B
C-
C-
C+
D+
B-
B+
B-

Crime Maps and Rates for Neighborhood with Similar Populations

South Tacoma is higher versus other neighborhoods of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in neighborhoods with comparable overall population in the neighborhood‘s boundaries.

Similar Neighborhood
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
B+
B+
B+
D-
F
F
B
C-
C-
B
C
C
A
B
B
A
A
A
B+
C-
C-
C
B
B
A
A+
A+
C+
A
A

Considering only the crime rate, South Tacoma is less safe than the Washington state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA average SchoolGrade of N/A, with N/A% actual proficiency versus 28% projected; overall, schools N/A. See South Tacoma schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 2 hours 18 minutes in South Tacoma. Want to protect your home?

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.