Relocating to University Park, Fircrest, or Steilacoom (Tacoma, Lakewood: low crime, houses)

[cjeepr42]

Hello Washington-

I am looking to move my family of 5 from Illinois to Tacoma area and hear that the crime rate is something to be concerned about in this general area. Could you all provide some feedback as to the area's surrounding Tacoma, like University Park, Fircrest, and Steilacoom and the crime rates there, family friendliness, outdoor activities, and school system.

We are a very outdoor orientated family.

We like to take walks with our dogs.

We love a cozy Saturday morning at the local coffee shop for great cup-o-joe and even better conversation.

We will bike both on road and off.

We enjoy community and mark that as one of the highest priorities next being a low crime area.

...and my kids need neighborhood buddies to hang with.

Thank you very much for any information you can provide.

cjeepr42

[back2sa]

I live in Fircrest. Fircrest and University Place are right next to each other and are almost like 1 town. What are the ages of your kids? University Place has it's own school district and is one of the best in the area. Some parts of Fircrest are part of the University Place School District while some parts of University Place are part of the Tacoma School District (as is much of Fircrest). So if you choose to live in this area you should get a school district map and live in the UP school district. It's pretty safe here in UP/Fircrest. I believe there are 2 elementary schools (could be 3...not sure), 2 intermediate schools (5th-7th grade), 1 Junior High (8th-9th), and 1 High School.

There are lots of parks in this area and I always see people walking/running, walking pets all the time.

Coffee shops are everywhere! Almost on every main street.

There are lots of kids everywhere. My neighborhood is fairly new (houses built in 2004-now), maybe 50-60 homes total and TONS of kids. So, you'll see them from all ages in all the neighborhoods. It's funny though because I don't really see many outside but in the morning the bus stop is full of 20+ kids waiting to go to the high school/junior high just in my neighborhood and I always wonder where they are during the day!

I do find a lot of people here in WA kind of keep to themselves but if you're involved in activites it's different.

I hear Steilacoom is nice and they also have their own school district. Maybe someone else can speak for that place. If you want more info just let me know.

[Caffreys]

Personally think your better off staying in Illinois...
The weather is brutal wet here, crime is bad, congested, expensive housing,
bad toxic soil, and people are far from friendly. Atleast in Illinois you get
cheap housing, friendly people, and 4 seasons...

[cobolt]

Fircrest, UP, and Steilacoom are all nice areas. UP and Fircrest are busier traffic wise etc than Steialcoom--mainly because Steilacoom is on the water's edge and is bounded on one side by North Ft Lewis, It's pricier and you have to drive out of town for your shopping and entertainment. UP pretty much has everything you need. I'm originally from Illinois. You might find the WA transition a bit rough. Rain is nice. Lots of it is not. The people are not the kind of close knit communities you are used to. Some may disagreee with me. You'll see what I mean once you get to WA.

[cjeepr42]

Thank you for your input...how long have you lived in the Tacoma area and would you say the cost of living is higher there than in Illinois? Also, if you do not mind me asking...it seems that you are not very happy living there and I am wondering why you stay?

Thank you.

[cjeepr42]

Cafferys: Could I ask what neighborhood you live in? From what I am understanding it makes all the difference in the world as to the neighborhood you live...some places in and around tacoma are pretty bad but others are quite nice...or so I am being told.

Thank you.

[back2sa]

I don't think Cafferys actually lives here. Looking at his posts he seems to be really negative about a lot of things.

I've lived here for 2 1/2 years now. The only real complaint I have is the expense. We're from Texas (will probably move back there in a few years) and it is more expensive here. Mainly the housing but I also find other things like water to be very expensive here. You would think with all the water in the area and rain we get that it would be cheaper. In TX my water bill ran around $30 a month and here it's $75. But mainly it's the housing situation. We did buy a house here last summer and every month I have to make that payment I think about how I could have the same house in TX for half the price!

I don't know what the cost of living is like in Illinois so it's hard for me to compare.

[ness]

If good schools are a high priority I would have University Place and Gig Harbor on the top of my list. GH is by far my favorite Tacoma adjacent city. I also absolutely fell in love with Steilacoom because it has that water village neighborhood feel and lots of character and historic housing. Although.....my friend who is a teacher said because the town is so small the kids are in combined grades for school.......didn't sound ideal to me.
GH has that water feel, but is a bit bigger so you have more amenities and it is across the bridge so lower crime and larger lots for housing.

[Caffreys]

back2sa, i have been here in Puyallup since 2000. It's my personal opinion about Pierce County. My home is on the market and can't wait to leave this area. UP & Gig Harbor is probably the best area for schools and being close to the Sound. But home prices are high there. Traffic is brutal all over Western Washington and getting worst everyday. Road construction is everywhere with new development and schools are over crowded in Puyallup, Graham, and Spanaway. Plus it rains too much...
Come see for yourself cjeep. I only call them as i see them...
Hey a lot of people love it here, which i don't see how. I rather live in back the Midwest than here. I used to live in Fort Wayne, IN. Again i lived all over the US being in the military. I wish i could move back to teh Bay Area, but it's just too expensive.
Good luck and hope you enjoy it here cjeep..

[Xenobion]

Ugh different strokes for different folks. Indiana is a nightmare from my experience and Gary, Indiana is nothing like the song. I consider Indiana either the 1st or 2nd worst state I've been to (debatable with South Dakota). And if you complain about traffic I don't know why you'd ever want to live in the Bay Area.

If you can deal with the Windy City you can live here weather wise.

If you want strong community its a bit tricky. Westerners are honestly a bit more cold than the friendly folk of the Midwest and South being a Washintonian myself I'll admit that Smaller cities are your best bet. Home style cities are cities like Stelicoom, Gig Harbor, Sumner. There is a community development called Lakeland Hills in Auburn/Sumner that is trying to promote that more community like atmosphere.

Washington schools are very good in general but as far as the south sound is concerned Puyallup, Gig Harbor and University Place School Districts are probably the best in the area.

University Place has Bike Lanes I believe. The more rustic Ma and Pa coffee places exist in Tacoma rather than the suburb areas that my have a glut of Starbucks or drive through coffee girl places.

Crime? Besides Tacoma itself Pierce County's major crimes involve meth labs and maybe a high number of drunk drivers. Avoiding Lakewood, South End of Tacoma, and Spanaway will solve most of your crime concerns.