Census-designated place · Washington
Lake Tapps, Washington
Lake Tapps, census-designated place, in Pierce County, Washington. Lake Tapps had 12,798 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,160). GEOID 5337920.
Residents, 2020-2024
12,798
±1,160 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 12,962
Median household income
$148,005
±$25,109 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$742,400
±$67,307 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$2,091
±$368 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Lake Tapps and what county is it in?
Lake Tapps is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Pierce County, Washington. It covers 12.3 square miles of land, 1,057 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lake Tapps is in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lake Tapps, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Lake Tapps's population at 12,798 (±1,160). The 2020 Census counted 12,962 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Lake Tapps is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Lake Tapps | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,798 ±1,160 | 930,319 | no clear change |
| Households | 4,611 ±383 | 351,330 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.78 ±0.14 | 2.59 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,861 ±421 | 369,709 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lake Tapps?
The median resident of Lake Tapps is 42.2 years old; 24.8% are under 18 and 17.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.7%. 5.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lake Tapps | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 ±2.3 | 37.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.8% ±2.9 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.1% ±3.0 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 50.8% ±2.4 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.7% ±2.4 pts | 12.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.5% ±3.6 pts | 61.4% | −5.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±2.2 pts | 6.8% | +2.7 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±2.1 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.8% ±1.6 pts | 10.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.8% ±2.0 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.7% ±2.3 pts | 10.9% | – |
| With a disability | 10.5% ±2.2 pts | 14.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.1% ±0.6 pts | 5.9% | −3.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.9% ±1.8 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 42.1% ±5.1 pts | 30.9% | +7.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.8% ±3.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.4% ±4.4 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Lake Tapps earn?
Half of Lake Tapps's 4,611 households earn less than $148,005 a year (±$25,109), against $99,564 in Pierce County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $143,920 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lake Tapps | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $148,005 ±$25,109 | $99,564 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $199,964 ±$32,442 | $124,488 | – |
| Per capita income | $71,939 ±$10,677 | $47,648 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.6% ±1.7 pts | 8.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.4% ±3.6 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.3% ±1.5 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.7% ±0.5 pts | 97.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.7% ±2.2 pts | 94.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Lake Tapps?
Owners occupy 89.2% of Lake Tapps's occupied homes and renters 10.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $742,400 by its owner (±$67,307). The median renter pays $2,091 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Lake Tapps | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $742,400 ±$67,307 | $526,600 | +$211,971 |
| Median gross rent | $2,091 ±$368 | $1,806 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 16.1% ±11.8 pts | 42.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,340 ±$196 | $2,423 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 89.2% ±3.6 pts | 64.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 10.8% ±3.6 pts | 35.3% | – |
| Housing units | 4,861 ±421 | 369,709 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 17.6% ±17.7 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.9% ±4.4 pts | 65.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.6% ±2.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.4% ±2.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.7% ±1.6 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.2% ±1.7 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.3% ±1.2 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Lake Tapps work and get to work?
68.3% of Lake Tapps's workers drive alone and 18.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 36.5 minutes.
| Measure | Lake Tapps | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.5% ±3.8 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±1.2 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 68.3% ±6.1 pts | 70.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.1% ±3.8 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.0% ±0.7 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.7% ±4.6 pts | 13.9% | +14.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 36.5 min ±2.8 | 31.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Lake Tapps?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Lake Tapps, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $137,581 (Tract 703.13) to $163,950 (Tract 703.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 703.07Pierce County | 6,233 | $163,950 |
| Tract 703.13Pierce County | 6,174 | $137,581 |
| Tract 703.14Pierce County | 3,166 | $140,455 |
| Tract 703.15Pierce County | 6,897 | $133,529 |
| Tract 703.16Pierce County | 5,518 | $114,969 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Lake Tapps) · Census block assignment files
How does Lake Tapps compare with other places in Washington?
Lake Tapps ranks 57th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 107th | 393 |
| Residents per square mile | 249th | 394 |
| Median household income | 57th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 45th | 393 |
| Median home value | 71st | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 76th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 250th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 100th | 382 |
| Median age | 146th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 58th | 388 |
| Work from home | 125th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 42nd | 394 |
Lake Tapps's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Lake Tapps with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Lake Tapps?
15 of the 57 figures for Lake Tapps on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Lake Tapps are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.