West Tacoma is a largely residential area, but as with all parts of Tacoma, there are things to do here, too. West Tacoma is also sometimes called the Tacoma West End and this is a good area to be if you want something a little less rough around the edges than East or South Tacoma, but still want affordable real estate. This area puts you close to Point Defiance and North Tacoma, but a little farther from I-5 and downtown.
Boundaries
West Tacoma is bounded by Point Defiance to the north, North Huson Street to the west (though, Pearl Street can feel like the division as it is a more major street), 6th Avenue and I-16 to the south, and the Puget Sound to the east.
Transportation
As with all of Tacoma, Pierce Transit runs throughout West Tacoma, providing an easy way to get around if you don’t have a car. Bus routes here include routes 1, 10, 11, 16, 100, and 601. The closest transit center is located at Tacoma Community College.
If you are driving, this entire side of town does not have immediate I-5 access, but I-16 goes straight through it. What this means is a quick jaunt on 16, which is usually not much of a problem now that there are two Narrows Bridges. Getting to Seattle or Olympia might take you an extra 10 minutes from this side of town. Access to Gig Harbor is also super quick from West Tacoma.
Real Estate
The average sale price of homes (as of 2011) in the West End was about $217,000, according to Zillow.com. Houses here are generally more expensive than areas such as East and South Tacoma, but a bit more affordable than North Tacoma or Gig Harbor. Home sizes here are mostly in the 1,000 square foot and more range, and you can find pockets or small two-bedroom homes as well as much nicer neighborhoods with water or bridge views and lots of finer touches (especially check out homes right off the Jackson/6th Avenue I-16 Exit, which include some more affordable view homes, as well as many expensive ones).
Apartments
You will find many apartments in West Tacoma, especially along thoroughfares like Pearl Street or Narrows Drive. There are tons of complexes ranging from cheap and kind of iffy to nicer places. Expect cheaper and somewhat lower-level places on the busier streets. If you want something a bit more upscale, it will pay to dig around a bit more for listings off of Pearl (or drive a bit farther to North Tacoma where there is an abundance of cute apartments with lots of charm). Prices start in the lower $600s and range up from there.
Things to do
Even though this area is pretty residential, there’s lots to do here worth checking out. If you want to spend some time golfing, the Highland Golf Course is located at 1400 North Highlands Parkway. This is also a good area to look for condos and real estate if you want to live close to the course.
Point Defiance is located in this part of town. Here, you can take long hikes along the trails in the forest, visit the zoo or Fort Nisqually, or enjoy some time lounging on Owen Beach. Titlow Beach Park is also located on the edges of West Tacoma if you want another option for a beach to hang out on.
West Tacoma is a great place to be if you enjoy walking. Not only is Point Defiance here, but the Narrows Bridges are adjacent to this part of town. Park at War Memorial Park just off of 6th Avenue (look for signs right around the library parking lot and Pao’s Donuts) and follow trails right onto the bridge. Skip this walk if the weather is rainy or cold because bad weather only gets worse on the bridge.
Pearl Street and 6th Avenue both have a huge array of shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and fast food places for more everyday kinds of needs.
Restaurants
Restaurants in the West End are mostly clumped onto Pearl and 6th Avenue, but along with many, many chain restaurants, you’ll find a few local treasures. The Antique Sandwich Co at 5102 N Pearl is a Tacoma classic and a great place to enjoy homemade food in a quaint atmosphere, but don’t expect super cheap prices. Tatanka Take-Out is another landmark in this area known for gigantic burritos and buffalo burgers.
On 6th Avenue, don’t miss the Cloverleaf—a small and nondescript pizza joint and bar. What they lack in atmosphere, they make up for in tasty pizza and are often ranked as one of the best pizza places in Tacoma!
Schools
Point Defiance Elementary School – 4330 N Visscher Street
Sherman Elementary School – 4415 N 38th Street
Truman – 5801 N 35th Street
Arcadia Learning Center – 6312 N 30th Street
Skyline Elementary
Jefferson
Downing Elementary School
Wilson High School
Transition High School
Hunt Middle School
Geiger Elementary School
Wainwright Elementary School
Delong
Foss High School