Puyallup is about 10 miles southeast of Tacoma and 35 miles south of Seattle. This Pierce County city of about 42,000 is named after the Puyallup Tribe. The area has many rivers, parks and striking views of the snow-capped Mount Rainier. It developed into a small farming community after homesteader pioneers arrived in the 1850s and was incorporated as a city in 1890. In the past, commerce was mainly agricultural, focused on hops, berries, and flowers. Today, major employers, along with the Puyallup Tribe, include the local school district and MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital. Puyallup's downtown is along South Meridian Street.
According to Joshua Walden, a broker with NextHome Prolific, who grew up in the Tacoma area, some see Puyallup as a satellite city to Tacoma. However, Puyallup is less urban: It's more family oriented and less densely populated than some other cities in the region.
The gorgeous Puyallup River is the jewel of the area.
Mt. Rainier can be seen from all over Puyallup.
Puyallup is a neighborhood located about an hour west of Mount Rainier.
Puyallup is a very scenic neighborhood east of Tacoma and near Mount Rainier.
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Puyallup's median home prices above the U.S. median
Puyallup boasts a fairly competitive housing market, with homes selling after 35 days on average compared to nationally at 44 days. Builds in Puyallup include early 1900s Craftsmans, 1950s to 1970s ramblers and split-levels, and 2000s to 2020s contemporary subdivision-style homes. Single-family homes make up the bulk of real estate, although there are townhouses and condominiums, including those in the south and southwest of the city. Puyallup's average sales price over 12 months — $580,000 in October 2024 — was up 5% from the preceding year. Puyallup's median price of $550,000 is below Pierce County's median, at $608,000, and Seattle's, $849,000.
A row of newly built homes east of downtown in Puyallup.
A picturesque Puyallup home, across the street from Stewart Elementary.
A bungalow in a street corner in Puyallup.
Aerial view of housing options in Puyallup.
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Washington State Fair, Daffodil Festival and other events
Puyallup is home base for the 20-day Washington State Fair, which starts Labor Day weekend and is held again for eight days in April. With over a million visitors annually, it's one of the most widely attended events in the Pacific Northwest and one of the biggest fairs in the country. Joining the many deep-fried fair and carnival foods are the Fisher Fair Scones, a favorite for over 110 years. The fairgrounds host events year-round, including Oktoberfest, Washington State Horror Con, Washington State Toy and Geek Fest and a culinary gathering called The Taste Northwest. The historical import of the fair site is connected to the forced relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II, as it was previously used as an internment camp.
In early April, the Daffodil Festival celebrates the community's colorful culture and includes a Grand Floral Parade. The festival's Royal Court dons their brightest yellow attire before the coronation of the new Daffodil Queen. Other popular Puyallup events include Meeker Days, a downtown street festival in mid-June with vendors, a car show and family activities. BOO-Allup is the city's version of Halloween.
Ferris Wheel and rotating swings are available at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup WA.
Find a partner and join on the dance floor during Oktoberfest NW.
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Kids are all smiles while watching Professor Smart during the Washington State Fair.
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Lots of shops downtown, South Hill Mall and more
Downtown Puyallup has more than 20 shops, many of them locally owned. There are just as many food options, from pubs and pizza, Japanese and Mexican, to cafes and a cake shop. South Hill Mall, a few miles from downtown, has over 100 stores, restaurants, a movie theater and a bowling alley with an arcade. The Catapult Adventure Park is in Valley Plaza.
Past South Hill Mall, farther down state Route 161, there's a retail corridor with shopping centers and brand-name stores, including Target, Walmart Supercenter, Kohl's and Fred Meyer. Regional and national chain restaurants and some independently owned options are available as well.
A customer awaits his caffeine fix at Anthem Coffee & Tea.
Head to South Hill Mall in Puyallup to take care of your shopping needs.
Puyallup has a large retail hub on the south side.
Enjoy access to big box stores and retail in Puyallup.
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Highly rated Puyallup School District is 6th largest in state
Earning a B-plus grade from Niche, the Puyallup School District (PSD) is the sixth largest in the state, with nearly 23,000 students and around 3,700 employees. "You'd buy a house in Puyallup because you have three kids and want them to go to a good school district," Walden says. Higher education options in the area include Pierce College Puyallup.
Northwood Elementary School entrance.
Puyallup High School with views of Mt. Ranier.
Ferrucci Jr High School provides education in the neighborhood of
Puyallup
Aylen Junior High School entrance view.
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The Puyallup Tribe's contributions and culture
The Puyallup Tribe has lived on the Puget Sound for thousands of years. The Puyallup Reservation encompasses nearly 30 square miles, overlapping parts of Puyallup, Tacoma and other smaller communities. Though the land is under the jurisdiction of the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, most people living here are not members.
Community engagement is a priority for the tribe, which has a motto, "Generous and welcoming to all people." The tribe facilitates educational and recreational programming, and there's a Puyallup Tribal Museum in Fife. The Puyallup Tribal Language Program's mission is to share and revitalize the Twulshootseed language, a southern dialect of Lushootseed, a Coast Salish language.
The tribe is one of Pierce County's Top 10 employers. Tacoma has the Emerald Queen Casino, which opened in 2020, and Kenmore Air on Ruston Way Puyallup Tribal Air Terminal, which opened in 2023 and provides seasonal seaplane flights.
Recreation at Pioneer Park and on the Riverwalk Trail
Puyallup has over 20 recreational sites and features, including a skatepark, dog park and community gardens. Pioneer Park downtown has a playground, spray park, chess tables and a large pavilion for events. At the park is a statue of Ezra Meeker, a 19th-century Oregon Trail pioneer some later called the "Hop King of the World" for his brewing success. Meeker was Puyallup's first mayor, serving from 1890 to 1891. Pioneer Park is also the setting for the city's summertime Family Concert Series. Additionally, the Puyallup Farmers Market is held there on Saturdays from April until October.
Wildwood Park is over 80 acres, with picnic areas, a trail system and a playground. Bradley Lake Park is 59 acres and includes a mile-long lakeside loop for walking and jogging, a large picnic area, ball fields and a playground. The Puyallup Riverwalk Trail extends 5 miles from the city's west edge to the east Main Street bridge. Proposed plans to connect to Pierce County Foothills Trail would link regional trails connecting to Mount Rainier National Park, Tukwila, Sumner and the Interurban Trail.
Puyallup residents enjoying a quiet lunch in a city park.
Public Library in Pioneer Park in Puyallup.
Pioneer Park is in the center of downtown Puyallup.
Watch the colors change for fall at Veterans Park.
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Pierce Transit, Puyallup Station and crime
Puyallup is bisected by state Route 512, which runs west to meet Interstate 5. State Route 167 runs north through Auburn and Kent to Renton. Though most residents drive to get around, Pierce Transit offers bus services, with a route heading to downtown Tacoma. The South Hill Park & Ride is on Ninth Street. On-demand service via Pierce Transit Runner vehicles operates in some areas that previously had fixed bus routes. Puyallup Station on Main Avenue has Sound Transit Sounder commuter rail service on the S Line. The Sounder train to Lakewood Station takes about 30 minutes, with stops in Tacoma. The train to Seattle's King Street Station usually takes under an hour, with stops at stations in Sumner, Auburn, Kent and Tukwila.
Pierce County Airport-Thun Field in south Puyallup provides various services, including charter and business flights and a flight simulator that's open to the public. For domestic and international flights, it's about 22 miles from downtown Puyallup to SeaTac, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
FBI data from the Puyallup Police Department shows the city's violent crime reports at the end of 2023 were 97 per 100,000, compared to a state rate of 89 and a national rate of 121.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
