Honest reviews, real talk about costs, and what Seattle transplants actually think of life in Tacoma
Moving from Seattle to Tacoma: Real Stories from People Who Made the Leap
There’s a conversation happening in Seattle coffee shops, on Reddit threads, and in group chats that goes something like this: “Have you thought about Tacoma?” For a long time, that suggestion came with a cringe. Tacoma has always had a (frankly undeserved) reputation problem within the Pacific Northwest. There are many reasons for this including Tacoma’s history as well as it being one of the most diverse cities in the entire Pacific Northwest. People who’ve never spent any real time in Tacoma routinely dismiss as Seattle’s scrappier, smaller neighbor. But people from Seattle who actually make the move? They tend to become its most enthusiastic advocates. This isn’t anything new, here’s a news story on Kiro News 7 about people moving from Seattle to Tacoma from back in 2015:
This news story is from 2015, when MovetoTacoma.com first launched. We got a lot of early press back then because while Seattleites have moved from Seattle to Tacoma for decades, the massive price increases of the past decade accellerated that trend.
Tacoma real estate agent Marguerite Martin has been watching this shift play out for nearly two decades from her front-row seat as a Tacoma relocation specialist. She’s helped hundreds of people navigate the move to Tacoma (from Seattle and from all over the US) and the reviews they leave behind tell a story that’s worth reading if you’re considering making that same leap.
Tacoma’s Reputation vs. Tacoma’s Reality
Seattle people often arrive in Tacoma with low expectations and leave with high ones. That gap between what people assume and what they actually find shows up everywhere in the reviews on Yelp and Google. This is also the understandable source of a lot of consternation from Tacomans themselves. Like, hello, get off I-5 and look around before you talk smack, people!
Justin Haight made the move from Seattle and found MoveToTacoma.com while researching different neighborhoods in Tacoma. What he expected was a basic real estate resource. What he found was something closer to a civic encyclopedia.
“When I moved to Tacoma I found Marguerite’s website to be an invaluable resource as I was deciding which neighborhood was right for me, but I got a lot more than I was expecting. MoveToTacoma.com is more than just a few blog entries about Tacoma neighborhoods. Marguerite has explored the contours of the city’s history, politics, and culture and created tons of incredible podcasts about Tacoma in order to bring her wealth of knowledge to anyone curious about Tacoma. Clearly, Marguerite is more than just a real estate agent. She’s a maven of all things Tacoma. The good, the bad, and the ugly — she seems to know it all.”
— Justin Haight, moved to Tacoma from Seattle
That phrase “the good, the bad, and the ugly” stands out. One of the things Seattle transplants consistently appreciate about MoveToTacoma.com is that it doesn’t sell Tacoma. It attempts to explain it. There’s a real difference. Tacoma has genuine strengths and genuine challenges, and anyone making a major move deserves the honest version of both.
Interested in exploring Tacoma culture? Check out these resources:
- Move to Tacoma Podcast: Interviews with Tacomans from all walks of life covering politics, civic life, the arts, community events, music, and more.
- Channel 253: A podcasting network with a variety of shows covering different aspects of life in Tacoma.
- Grit City Magazine: Founded on the notion that Tacoma has good stories to tell. They explore the places that define Tacoma, pay homage our history, and share artists and voices not found in more mainstream publications.
The honest version of Tacoma’s story, according to hundreds of people who’ve made this move: Tacoma is a city that rewards people who actually show up to it.
What Happens When You Find Your People (and Your Place) in Tacoma
Nina Newsome moved to Tacoma from Seattle over 13 years ago. She didn’t just find a home, she found a community. And Marguerite was part of how that happened.
Nina’s review captures something important about what makes the “Move to Tacoma” experience different from a typical real estate transaction. This isn’t just about finding a house with the right number of bedrooms. It’s about landing somewhere you actually belong.
“Marguerite is a true gem in our community. With a wealth of knowledge in her field, she constantly seeks to raise the bar. Her genuine passion for her clients and the Tacoma community is evident in the valuable and interesting content she shares on her Move to Tacoma site and through her podcasts, where she interviews local leaders, advocates, entrepreneurs and politicians. We bought our home from her 13 years ago, and not only did she give us a warm welcome to Tacoma but she still checks in on us regularly. We are lucky to have her and Tacoma is lucky to have her back. Even if she can’t assist directly, she most definitely knows someone who can. Or someone who can cut your hair. Or walk your dog. Or where to get the best coffee. Or a guy, who knows a guy, who works for a woman who knows a lot about the very thing you are curious about…”
— Nina Newsome, moved to Tacoma from Seattle (13 years ago and counting)
Read that last part again. That’s not a description of a real estate agent. That’s a description of a connector, someone so embedded in a community that they’ve become part of its social fabric. Here’s an interview with Nina and her husband Stell from back in 2015 shortly after they made their move to Tacoma:
Thirteen years later, Nina (and her husband Stell) aren’t just a satisfied clients. They’re neighbors, advocates, and living proof that moving to Tacoma can mean more than just finding a cheaper zip code.
Seattle vs. Tacoma: Let’s Talk About the Cost of Living
A green house with a brick chimney and sidewalk in the Lincoln District Neighborhood of Tacoma WA
Median home prices in Tacoma run significantly lower than Seattle’s, often by six figures or more depending on neighborhood and timing. You get more square footage, more likely a yard, and more likely a garage. The commute to Seattle via Sounder train is real and usable — many people make it work as a daily option. But here’s what the reviews tell us that the spreadsheets do not: the value isn’t just financial. It’s about what your money buys in terms of quality of life.
Zan Lussier moved to Downtown Tacoma from Seattle and described the experience of working with Marguerite as getting exactly what he needed. Not just a lower price point, but the right neighborhood, the right agent, and the right fit.
“Marguerite not only knows Tacoma so well, she also connected me to a great agent. Marguerite listened to what I wanted, in a home and agent, and made sure I was all set with the agent she referred. She’s easy to talk to and has so much insider Tacoma knowledge that she freely shares. Highly recommend!”
— Zan Lussier, moved to Downtown Tacoma from Seattle
Downtown Tacoma is worth a specific mention here. It’s gone through a remarkable transformation over the past decades. The waterfront, the Museum District, the restaurant scene, the light rail connection. People who moved there five or ten years ago are watching their neighborhoods evolve in real time. Zan is one of them.
Marguerite (who funny enough is now Zan’s neighbor in Downtown Tacoma) recently shared an update about what it’s like to live in Downtown Tacoma.
What Makes Tacoma Work Specifically for Seattle Transplants
People moving from Seattle to Tacoma have a different set of needs than people moving from California or from the East Coast. They’re already in the Pacific Northwest. They know the rain, they like the mountains, they’ve built a life in this corner of the country. What they’re looking for is more: more space, more financial breathing room, and often- a greater connection to their community.
Historic Homes off 6th Avenue in Central Tacoma, WA
Tacoma delivers on all of those fronts in ways that genuinely surprise people. A few things that Seattle transplants consistently mention:
The neighborhoods feel like neighborhoods. In Seattle, the rapid growth of the past decade has transformed many areas into something denser and more anonymous. Some neighborhoods are unrecognizable. Tacoma’s neighborhoods: Proctor, the North End, Hilltop, South Tacoma, the West Slope, the Thea Foss waterway- still have distinct characters, local business districts, and the sense that your neighbors know your name.
The arts and culture scene is real. The Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Pantages Theater, a thriving local music scene- Tacoma isn’t a cultural outpost. It’s a city with genuine creative energy that often flies under the radar precisely because Seattle gets all the attention. The access to nature is just as good (and truly it’s better than Seattle because we have less traffic in the way of reaching it). Tacomans are 90 minutes from Mount Rainier. Tacoma is surrounded by the Puget Sound. We have Point Defiance Park (one of the largest urban parks in the country) basically in our backyard. The things people love about the Pacific Northwest don’t disappear when you move south on I-5. The just get more accessible.
Seattle is still right there. The Sounder train, highway access, the proximity. Tacoma isn’t a retreat from Seattle, it’s an easy base from which to visit and explore it. Many people who move here still work in Seattle, still go for concerts and games and dinners.
Is Moving from Seattle to Tacoma Right for You?
The reviews are consistent: people who make this move are glad they did. And not in a “well it’s cheaper” kind of way but in a genuine, “I found my place” kind of way. Nina and the others from that early wave of transplants are all still here 12 years later.
If you’re sitting in Seattle right now, running the numbers, wondering whether Tacoma could actually work for you the best thing you can do is talk to someone who knows the city the way Marguerite does. Not a sales pitch. Just a real conversation about your goals, your timeline, and what would make a move feel like the right decision.
What is Move to Tacoma?
Move to Tacoma is a podcast, neighborhood guide, and blog about Tacoma, Washington created by Tacoma Real Estate Agent Marguerite Martin. Marguerite is Tacoma real estate agent, blogger, and podcaster who has been selling houses in Tacoma since 2005.
In 2015 she created MovetoTacoma.com to help people learn more about Tacoma neighborhoods and what it’s really like living in Tacoma. She is the interviewer on the Move to Tacoma Podcast and the host on the Move to Tacoma Youtube Channel. In 2016 she was awarded the the Popham Award by the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. The Popham Award honors the individual in the City of Tacoma that has done the most to build community spirit.
Looking for a real estate agent? Marguerite is a matchmaker. Contact her for an introduction to the best real estate agents in Tacoma and beyond.
How Move to Tacoma Works
Here at Move to Tacoma we’ve been helping people find their place (and their real estate agent) in Tacoma for over a decade. We recommend choosing a local agent that lives and works in Tacoma and knows all the nuances of pricing, neighborhoods, and the condition (and quirks!) of these historic homes.
Here at MovetoTacoma.com we help people find their place in the City of Destiny. If you or a friend are looking to buy a home in Tacoma and would like help learning about Tacoma neighborhoods and finding a real estate agent please reach out to us! You can click the contact form on MovetoTacoma.com. You can also schedule a one-on-one with Marguerite on zoom by clicking here.
Step 1: Explore the Clickable Neighborhood Map of Tacoma
Our clickable neighborhood map of Tacoma’s neighborhoods is our pride and joy. Click through to find images and videos of each neighborhood. The Neighborhood guides on the map also include median home price information, blog posts about the neighborhoods, podcast episodes about the neighborhoods, and candid quotes from local neighbors.
Step 2: Listen to the Move to Tacoma Podcast
The best way to learn about Tacoma is to hear from the people who live here. On the Move to Tacoma Podcast Marguerite interviews Tacomans who’ve been here generations and Tacomans who just got here. From business and technology leaders to politicians and activists and everyone in between. The Move to Tacoma Podcast will give you insight into why people move here and how they find meaning and happiness in Tacoma.
Step 3: Read the Blog Posts on MovetoTacoma.com
On the Move to Tacoma Blog we have been writing about things to do in Tacoma, where to eat in Tacoma, hot button community topics, neighborhoods and more since 2015. There are hundreds of posts to help you find what you love in the City of Destiny. From posts about where to eat and drink to interviews with locals- the blog is a great place to keep up one what’s happening in Tacoma and Pierce County.
Step 4: Get Realtor Referral from a Local Realtor
Marguerite Martin is a different kind of Tacoma real estate agent. Reach out to find out answers to questions you have about neighborhoods in Tacoma and Pierce County. When the time is right to start looking, Marguerite can connect you with a local real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you love most. You can see reviews from past clients who’ve worked with Marguerite on Yelp and on Google.
✦ As seen in Forbes (February 2026): Marguerite Martin was recognized for building what Forbes described as a “referral-based ecosystem” — matching clients with specialist agents who are genuine neighborhood experts. It’s the model behind every great move story in this post.
