Joint Base Lewis-McChord Housing, Relocation, and Real Estate
Click on the map below to learn more information on each community around JBLM and to search local homes for sale.
Graham
Puyallup
Tacoma
University Place
Lakewood
Spanaway
Joint baseLewis McChord
DuPont
Roy
Yelm
Lacey
Tumwater
Olympia
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Graham
Graham is located just South of Puyallup and the South Hill area. It is a relatively small town and home to the Pierce County Fair every summer. The commute to JBLM through the east gate is not too long as you can take back roads to get to the gate. Meridian, the main access road to the freeways going through Puyallup can be congested at times. However, Canyon Rd. was just widened and this alleviates some of the stress.
Graham Real Estate
Real estate in Graham is relatively inexpensive as there is a lot of new construction inventory starting in the high $100's for a 3 bedroom. The yard size is fairly small for the new homes. However, Graham does have a rural setting and if you prefer some land there are some options.
Puyallup
Puyallup is named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans. Puyallup means "the generous people." This scenic town emerged from agriculture and has transformed to a flourishing community with a deep history. Every weekend between May and October, Puyallup hosts a Farmer's Market in Pioneer Park. The Puyallup Fair is also held here annually and is considered one the largest fairs in the world. The commute to Tacoma, JBLM or even Seattle may take longer than usual as Puyallup is susceptible to rush hour traffic.
Puyallup Real Estate
Puyallup has a range of older homes located in the downtown residential areas and new construction, mostly located south of Puyallup in the South Hill neighborhoods. Puyallup does have higher end homes, many times with a breathtaking view of Mt. Rainier. A moderately sized 3 bedroom in Puyallup would start in the low to mid $200's. It is possible to find new homes starting in the $100's especially in the South Hill area where there is a lot of new construction.
Tacoma
Tacoma is a busy port city that is on Washington's Puget Sound. It is 32 miles southwest of Seattle and 21 miles northeast of Olympia. It is the 2nd largest city in the Puget Sound area and the 3rd largest in the state. Tacoma-Pierce County has been named one of the most livable areas in the country. Tacoma was also recently listed as the 19th most walkable city in the country with a 15 to 25 minute commute to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, pending traffic of course!
Tacoma Real Estate
Tacoma has an assortment of housing and pricing options. South Tacoma you will find reasonably priced older craftsman style homes. Downtown you will find a mix of older homes and newer condos. The closer you get to the water and downtown, the higher the price. Homes start in the mid $100's for a fixer and go up from there. However, you can find a moderately sized livable home for under $300k.
University Place
University Place was incorporated in 1995 and runs along the Puget Sound and West side of Tacoma. It is known to have one of the lowest crime rates in Pierce County and has many city owned and maintained parks.
University Place Real Estate
University Place has a mix of newer and older homes. Pricing can be relatively expensive compared to neighboring cities. Most homes are at or above the $300's. Traffic can sometimes be an issue when commuting through Tacoma to get to I-5.
Lakewood
Lakewood is sometimes considered a suburb of Tacoma even though it is the second largest city in Pierce County. Lakewood is home to almost 1100 businesses and about 60,000 residents. It has close ties to the Army due to Fort Steilacoom that was built in 1849 and then when Camp Lewis opened in 1917. Camp Lewis is now Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Lakewood was incorporated in 1996 and is conveniently located along Interstate 5 and is right next to JBLM.
Lakewood Real Estate
Homes in Lakewood can range from the mid $100's, most of which need improvements and are in Foreclosure to as high as the $800's that rest on American Lake. Housing is relatively equal between renters and owner-occupied homes in Lakewood.
Spanaway
Spanaway is considered a suburb of Tacoma and is located about 15 miles south of Downtown. Upon the creation of the Mt. Rainier National Park, travelers to and from pass through Spanaway via Route 7, also known as the "Mountain Highway." Spanaway is a rather small city and has breathtaking views of Mount Rainier.
Spanaway Real Estate
You can purchase a brand new home in Spanaway relatively cheaply. The real estate boom of a few years ago left Spanaway and its surrounding neighborhoods with an over-supply of un-built lots. Most homes are on moderately sized property. Many are now owned by a bank and can be purchased at a reasonable price.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Due to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the support of the community, Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the number-one preferred duty station in the US Army. In January, 2010, Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base became a joint base, one of 12 joint bases in the Department of Defense. It will be the largest military installation on the west coast of the United States with more than 415,000 acres, including Yakima Training Center in central Washington. It will support an on-base population and in neighboring communities of more than 100,000 people including military personnel, families, civilian and contract employees, and retirees and their families.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord area Real Estate
JBLM is a common choice for military retirees as there are many employment opportunities and recreation activities to choose from. In fact, Joint Base Lewis McChord supports almost 30,000 military retirees in the immediate area.
DuPont
Dupont is located right off of I-5 by the exits 118 and 119, across the freeway from JBLM. DuPont is also a quick commute to anyone working in either Olympia, Lacey or Tacoma. DuPont is a growing community with the help of large employers such as State Farm Insurance and Intel.
Dupont Real Estate
Most of the DuPont real estate was built after 2000 when Northwest Landing, a master planned community, started developing. The average price of home is in the high $200,000 making DuPont a relatively expensive option compared to Lacey. However, there is value in convenience as it is located almost adjacent to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Roy
Roy is a rural town that is between Yelm and Spanaway, just outside the East gate to JB Lewis-McChord. It is one of the oldest communities in the area. James McNaught and Dr. Samuel Warren founded it in 1884 and Roy was officially incorporated on January 16, 1908. Roy has 3 rodeos a year, including the Roy Pioneer Rodeo that attracts many spectators from around the state and Canada. Roy is also a short commute to Joint Base Lewis-McChord through the east gate by highway 507.
Roy Real Estate
The homes in Roy are usually on larger lot sizes giving them a rural feel. There are a few new construction neighborhoods. However, Roy is predominately made of older homes with some manufactured homes, usually on relatively large property. Homes in Roy range from the high hundreds on up.
Yelm
Many military families live in Yelm and have a short 20 minute commute to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Yelm is also a short drive to the Lacey Olympia area and access to I-5. Yelm has about 10,000 residents with a small town feel as there is one main road cutting through Yelm. This is changing as a business loop is in the works which will help alleviate some of the traffic during rush hour. Yelm's name comes from the Coast Salish word "shelm" which means "land of the dancing spirits".
Yelm Real Estate
Most of the homes in Yelm are newer construction at an affordable price. Price ranges start in the high hundreds for a small home and mid $200's buys you a 2600 square foot new home. As you move to the outskirts of Yelm, you find older craftsman style on larger pieces of property.
Lacey
Lacey is a rapidly growing community just adjacent to Olympia on the North side and only 6 miles south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Lacey's population is about 40,000, many of which are employed by Lewis-McChord and the State of Washington.
Lacey Real Estate
Lacey has many new construction options as there are many new neighborhoods both to the North and South. If you prefer a more mature neighborhood and perhaps a larger yard, the downtown residential area may have some options for you. Price ranges for new and older homes start on the high 100's for a moderately sized 3 bedroom. However, the majority of the homes are between the price ranges of $200,000 and $300,000.
Tumwater
This sprawling city is located south of the state capital, Olympia, Washington. It is a 25 minute commute to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Tumwater was the original home of where Olympia Beer once brewed and also home to numerous government offices and the Olympia airport. Interstate 5 cuts directly through downtown Tumwater, therefore having easy access to JBLM and cities to the North. Tumwater has a population of around 20,000.
Tumwater Real Estate
Tumwater real estate ranges from the low $200's for a smaller house on up. Tumwater hill is a popular more established neighborhood overlooking Capitol Lake with views of the state capitol. Homes can generally be found in the $300's and up in this neighborhood. Tumwater has some new construction and is currently building infrastructure to expand to the South.
Olympia
Olympia is the state capitol of Washington with a population of about 45,000. It rests on the beautiful Puget Sound and is a major cultural center of the region. Downtown Olympia inhabits many fun shops and restaurants to browse through. It is a short distance from The Joint Base Lewis-McChord and its neighbors are Lacey to the North and Tumwater to the South.
Olympia Real Estate
Olympia real estate includes some new construction and quite a bit of older more established homes even to include some historical residences especially around the capitol campus. The new construction is usually found on the outskirts of Olympia and the older more established homes usually downtown. The highest convergence of new residential and commercial real estate is in West Olympia near the Capitol Mall and the Olympia Auto Mall. Homes for sale in the state capital are more expensive then Lacey or Tumwater and usually start in the mid $200's for a moderately sized 3 bedroom.
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