Moving to McChord AFB, need some help! (Lakewood, Olympia: how much, houses) - Washington (WA) - City-Data Forum

dkjr47 · 07-17-2008, 11:31 AM

Good Day,

I have reciently recieved orders to McChord and need helpfull advice on the surrounding area. I am from south Florida (18 years) and have been stationed in the Florida panhandle for 16 years. So, this will be very different. I am looking for a SAFE, CLEAN, FAMILY oriented city for me, my wife and 11 year old daughter. We are used to A+ schools (wife is teacher, daughter straight A student), excellent kept houses, and close to stores, food ect. I am willing to drive but like everone else, do not want to be in traffic for 1hr or more. I have heard Sumner, south puyallup, lake Bonney areas are nice. Also, nieghbors like Gem Hieghts are family oriented. Any help and forsight would be great.

Ira500 · 07-17-2008, 02:17 PM

As far as schools are concerned, the Olympia schools are considered really good, and there are a lot of nice family oriented areas within the Olympia school district...And it wouldn't be too far of a commute, especially if you found something in the Olympia school district closer to Lacey. But no part of Olympia would be real far.

cobolt · 07-17-2008, 02:58 PM

How much of a commute are you willing to do? Puyallup is getting congested and built up and traffic is a pain on Meridian and 512. Sumner and Bonny Lake are nice, but again, you're dealing with 512. Lacey is close to quite a bit and only a hop up I-5 and Dupont is a really nice area, although I don't know about the school systems. I think Olympia would be a good place to look into. I would suggest Steilacoom too, although you'll have to go into Lakewood or University Place to do your shopping, it's a nice, historic community, good schools, you're near the water, and you can either take I-5 up to McChord or take the secret squirrel backroads.

mthomson · 07-17-2008, 05:06 PM

I'd think University Place would be one good bet. Sumner may be more rural than you're used to, Puyallup is getting too trafic-y in my opinion. Bonney Lake is nice, but I know nothing about their schools.
I'm very partial to Gig Harbor. We have the #2 rated school district in Washington based off of test scores and class size. Our biggest drawback would be commute. Depending on what part of Gig Harbor you choose, you'd be 20-35 min to McChord. Great community, great neighborhoods, great ammenities (new YMCA, new Costco, new hospital).

Sandy Nelson · 07-17-2008, 06:12 PM

dkjr47,
Congratulations on your orders to McChord. It's a great installation in a beautiful part of the country. I bet it will be quite a climate change for you, though.
I'd recommend checking out the Olympia area. Olympia schools are excellent. The Olympia High School ranks in the top 5% of public high schools nation-wide. Olympia has all the amenities, such as restaurants, shopping, entertainment and recreation. Your commute to McChord would be 20 to 30 minutes. Other communities I'd recommend are Lacey, Dupont and Gig Harbor. Your shortest commute would probably be from Dupont. It's a fairly new planned community with a quaint town center. Let me know if you have any other questions about moving here.

Sandy

jamesandveybe · 07-17-2008, 10:15 PM

Stay away from the housing surrounding the base, it's loud and dirty. Lacey is a nice large town, but not a small city, actually a suburb of Olympia. 25 minutes in the gate. That is one big base.

MaMichelle · 07-28-2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobolt

I would suggest Steilacoom too, although you'll have to go into Lakewood or University Place to do your shopping, it's a nice, historic community, good schools, you're near the water, and you can either take I-5 up to McChord or take the secret squirrel backroads.

I also suggest the Steilacoom area. That includes the areas right outside of Steilacoom. I grew up there, went to school in the district 2nd-12th grade, DH retired from the army and we've moved back. We live in a decent part of Lakewood now, but my family still lives one street away from Steilacoom. Beaches....small town....340 acre park (Fort Steilacoom w/ Lake). It is a very nice area.

You may want to shop on Ft. Lewis or McChord since the prices are MUCH cheaper for groceries than Albertsons, Safeway, or many of the other supermarkets.