Where to live near Tacoma? (Seattle, Federal Way: home, neighborhood, school district)

[ahava]

My husband and I have been contemplating a move to Washington for a long time. It seems like the perfect place for us - we love nature and outdoorsy activities! We have friends in and near Tacoma so we're looking in that area. Schools are probably the most important factor, as we have 3 kids ranging in age from 9 months to 12 years. The school district we live in now is one of the best in Illinois, with test scores around 95% - we'd like to find something similar. We're also looking for a community with a small town feel, ideally with a downtown area of shopping and restaurants. Are there any suburbs like that near Tacoma? We're moving from the Chicago 'burbs, so we're used to bad weather, murderous commutes, and a high cost of living. Our price range is about $450k-$500k.

Any help is appreciated!

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by kirstenleigh

My husband and I have been contemplating a move to Washington for a long time. It seems like the perfect place for us - we love nature and outdoorsy activities! We have friends in and near Tacoma so we're looking in that area. Schools are probably the most important factor, as we have 3 kids ranging in age from 9 months to 12 years. The school district we live in now is one of the best in Illinois, with test scores around 95% - we'd like to find something similar. We're also looking for a community with a small town feel, ideally with a downtown area of shopping and restaurants. Are there any suburbs like that near Tacoma?

Maybe Gig Harbor? Actually Puyallup isn't too bad either, as long as you stay down in the valley floor rather than getting out to the 'burbs up the hills, and you wouldn't have to cross the bridges each day to get to Tacoma.

If you don't mind being further away from Tacoma and you want better weather I'd strongly suggest Port Townsend. That wouldn't work if you're working in Tacoma but otherwise it's a great little city and one of the few places in Western Washington that I'd want to live in if I were raising a family.

We're moving from the Chicago 'burbs, so we're used to bad weather, murderous commutes, and a high cost of living. Our price range is about $450k-$500k.

Any help is appreciated!

The only suggestion that I'd make is to be honest with yourself about the weather before commiting to the Puget Sound region. Other than the area around Port Townsend, which falls in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, you can pretty much kiss the sun goodbye from November through March, and it won't be a common visitor until June. We recently had a stretch of seven sunny days that brought our total since Halloween up to nine Other than the dreary winters (which, by tradition, are considered to last until the 5th of July) the weather around here is a big plus - it's just that all of those months of gray is a major caveat.

[washinton native]

you should look into gig harbor.

[FistFightingHairdresser]

Originally Posted by kirstenleigh

My husband and I have been contemplating a move to Washington for a long time. It seems like the perfect place for us - we love nature and outdoorsy activities! We have friends in and near Tacoma so we're looking in that area. Schools are probably the most important factor, as we have 3 kids ranging in age from 9 months to 12 years. The school district we live in now is one of the best in Illinois, with test scores around 95% - we'd like to find something similar. We're also looking for a community with a small town feel, ideally with a downtown area of shopping and restaurants. Are there any suburbs like that near Tacoma? We're moving from the Chicago 'burbs, so we're used to bad weather, murderous commutes, and a high cost of living. Our price range is about $450k-$500k.

Any help is appreciated!

Yes, Gig Harbor would probably suit you nicely. The school district there is very good and close to plenty of outdoors. I used to do a lot of sea kayaking there & about, and I can recommend that as an activity if that suits your fancy.

Port Townsend -- lovely place but you probably would be baking a step back commute-wise.

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by FistFightingHairdresser

Port Townsend -- lovely place but you probably would be baking a step back commute-wise.

That brings up a question for the original poster: are your choices constrained by work? You mentioned having friends in Tacoma but not where you would be working. If your job isn't constraining then Port Townsend is a fantastic choice - it's close enough to Tacoma or Seattle to visit at any time but far enough away to have a better (my opinion) life style, and the sun shines there once in awhile!

[ahava]

Thanks for all of your responses so far! I should have mentioned that my husband and I are both teachers, so we're not really locked into working in a specific area. We will definitely look at Gig Harbor and Port Townsend. We would like to be within 30 minutes of Tacoma, if possible.

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by kirstenleigh

Thanks for all of your responses so far! I should have mentioned that my husband and I are both teachers, so we're not really locked into working in a specific area. We will definitely look at Gig Harbor and Port Townsend. We would like to be within 30 minutes of Tacoma, if possible.

That would leave Port Townsend out - it's more like an hour and 30 minutes. Gig Harbor is much closer but there are plenty of times when it's still more than 30 minutes from Tacoma

30 minutes to Tacoma leaves out more places than it includes. Probably the best bets are Gig Harbor, Puyallup and maybe Federal Way. Not that I'm saying traffic around here is attrocious or anything, but I'm really looking to mid-May when I can change places with you - we're moving from Tacoma to south east Wisconsin

[washinton native]

anywhere but tacoma ... minus spokane, of course.

[sodwyer]

Hi There,

What Chicago Burbs? I lived in Chi town for 4 years loved it, definietly miss the shopping. Even with Seattle you guys are a whole lot more progressive and what fabulous restaurants on every street corner, I miss the lifestyle sometimes, definitely not the weather!

I love it here in the NW I actually grew up here and spent my only time away in Chicago. I think you should check out University Place, Steilacoom, and Dupont. All three have great schools. Awesome housing available in your price range, you could go new or older home in a more mature neighborhood. I think Steilacoom has the most small town feel out of the three and it's beautiful, everyday as you drive through downtown you see the water and mountains in the distance and not to mention there's a ferry service makes for fun family day trips! U.P. has great views too, has more of the everyday conveniences and a little more variety in what's avail. Dupont is a much newer community, but well planned. Worth taking a look. Good Luck!

=)
sodwyer

[Laakealight]

Don't rush into Gig Harbor - they have a toll bridge that will cost you $3 to cross and a $49 fine if you don't pay the toll. The property tax is quite high too.

I have friends that bought at Browns Point (overlooking the waterfront) and they love it - plus, it's very close to downtown Tacoma. Lakewood (Gravelly Lake area), Steilacoom and University Place are pretty nice too if Brown's Point is too pricey.

Good luck.