Relocating to Mcchord AFB, need some help (Seattle, Tacoma: good schools, college)

[gravymark]

Hello, we are relocating to Mcchord AFB in a few months and I was hoping for some help. Basically what we are looking for is some guidance or suggestions on which cities/communities would fit our needs or really close to it.

We are looking for a place that offers the culture of the city or close to it but we don't want to drive an hour to work if i'm only 20 miles away. I'd love to live IN Seattle but working at Mcchord there is no way. Good schools is also really high on the list as we will have one in HS and one entering elementary in a couple of years but we can go private if need be for the little one. We are not the big box retailer types, don't care to live by a wal-mart as we like the enjoyment of small business and mom and pop type stores. We can always commute to a costco or something. A walkable style downtown, safe small city with culture and charm would be great and something quaint.

Does anything fit that bill?

[Inkpoe]

Lots of threads similar to yours... except usually they're Fort Lewis.

Dupont (but that might be too "new")
Steilacoom for sure
Olympia could work, but you might not like the traffic (though I don't think it'll take an hr)
Puyallup could work, but traffic concerns and its undoubtedly crowded

[Andy]

I agree with the above. Steilacoom has the small town feel despite being near Tacoma and the base. Olympia has a walkable safe downtown with tons of culture and charm, and good schools. DuPont is newer planned city with a growing commercial core, but may be too new, sterile. Puyallup has decent schools, a downtown, close to Tacoma, and the closest to Seattle of places mentioned. Puyallup is more suburban sprawly than the other four.

[gravymark]

Thanks for the replies! Steilacoom looks awesome and was a town we hadn't even looked at yet and now we will for sure. Olympia we like also but we were sort of concerned about the drive to Seattle. Looking at medical schools up there as well.

[tobester]

Originally Posted by gravymark

Thanks for the replies! Steilacoom looks awesome and was a town we hadn't even looked at yet and now we will for sure. Olympia we like also but we were sort of concerned about the drive to Seattle. Looking at medical schools up there as well.

Only one medical school in the area - UW - one of the best in the nation.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by tobester

Only one medical school in the area - UW - one of the best in the nation.

And only one other med school in the whole state, an osteopathic college in Yakima.