Unemployment in Pierce County, Washington, is higher than in 88% of U.S. counties
In Pierce County, 5.5% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 88% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 51% of U.S. counties.
What drives Pierce County's score
In Pierce County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 80.8. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 24.7% of the typical household's income (fiscal year 2027), higher than in 82% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 64.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Pierce County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Pierce County does better than most counties on two measures: median household income ($100,125, 2024) and people below the poverty line (9.4%, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 80.8 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.3% · 2020 to 202479th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.7% · fiscal year 202782nd percentile
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- 64.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202688th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.2% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
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- 47.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.5% · August 202532nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people159.3 · 202562nd percentile
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- 41.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.3% · August 202547th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.9% · August 202545th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.4% · second quarter of 202631st percentile
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- 21.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.4% · 202417th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.6% · 202420th percentile
- People with a disability14.1% · 2020 to 202431st percentile
- People without health insurance5.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$100,125 · 20245th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Pierce County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Pierce County, 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Pierce County
Washington
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Pierce County had its largest rise, from 7.2% in 1969 to 11.2% in 1974.
In Pierce County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 18.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Pierce County, Washington, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 18.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Pierce County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.4% in 2011 to 12.9% in 2012.
The share of households in Pierce County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a fifth
Low on the chart: 9.3% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Pierce County, Washington.
How Pierce County has changed
Pierce County's population had its largest rise, from 836,847 in 2014 to 913,860 in 2019.
Pierce County's population more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 941,170, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1969 to 1974, reaching 415,098. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Pierce County, Washington.
The number of jobs located in Pierce County had its largest rise in the last span, from 302,252 in 2020 to 337,071 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Pierce County doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 337,071, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2005 to 2010, reaching 260,961. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Pierce County, Washington.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.8% | 2025 5.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.8% | 2024 9.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $28,425 | 2024 $100,125 |
The table uses 5.0% for 2025; the score uses 5.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Pierce County's history
1852
December 22, 1852 (created). Wikipedia
2006
Heavy rain in November 2006 did $36 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
A flood in November 2006 did $2.1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
A flood in January 2009 did $8.8 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 921,130, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1964
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Pierce County, 16 of them for flooding. FEMA
Pierce County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Pierce County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Pierce County ranks 5th of the seven; Mason County is highest, at 29.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima County, WA | 69 | 16.7% | 27.9% |
| Lewis County, WA | 56 | 10.6% | 28.6% |
| Mason County, WA | 53 | 12.2% | 29.1% |
| Pierce County, WA | 51 | 9.4% | 18.6% |
| Thurston County, WA | 42 | 8.5% | 20.3% |
| Kitsap County, WA | 27 | 7.8% | 18.1% |
| King County, WA | 23 | 8.8% | 7.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Pierce County the poorest county in Washington?
No, Pierce County's poverty rate was 9.4% in 2024, 33rd highest of 39 in Washington (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Whitman County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Pierce County ranks 9th of 39 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Pierce County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Tacoma/ Pierce County Habitat for Humanity
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Northwest Justice Project (NJP)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Pierce County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Pierce County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.