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City Guide
Living in Lakewood. Lakes and gates.
Five lakes, tree-lined streets, and the shortest commute to JBLM's main gates in the county. Lakewood is the Royal-T RE-Team's backyard, and living in Lakewood is still the most underrated value play in the South Sound.
Living here
American Lake and Gravelly Lake set the tone for Lakewood, WA: waterfront and near-waterfront homes that would cost triple on Lake Washington. Between them, mid-century ramblers on big lots, the Colonial Center's shops, and Fort Steilacoom Park's 340 acres of trails and views.
The neighborhoods have real character. Oakbrook wraps its established mid-century streets around the Oakbrook golf course. Tillicum sits right on American Lake, with Harry Todd Park's swimming beach, fishing pier, and boat docks a short walk from most doors. Lake Steilacoom and Lake Louise fill out the middle of the city, and the Lakewood Towne Center area carries the everyday errands: shops, restaurants, city hall, and the Pierce Transit hub all in one stretch.
Who it fits
Military families who refuse to spend their tour in traffic, and buyers who want space and water without leaving the urban core. Ten minutes to the base, fifteen to Tacoma, and the Sounder leaves from Lakewood's own station.
Thornewood Castle · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting around
I-5 runs straight through the city, and JBLM's gates sit at Lakewood's own exits: for most of the base, the commute is minutes, not miles. The Sounder S Line starts here, at Lakewood Station on Pacific Highway with a 600-plus stall parking garage. The ride into Seattle's King Street Station runs about 75 minutes. Sound Transit's 594 express covers Tacoma and Seattle by bus, Intercity Transit's Lakewood Commuter route connects to Olympia, and SR 512 links you east to Puyallup and the valley. Driving, figure about 15 minutes to downtown Tacoma, half an hour to Olympia, and an hour to Seattle on a good day.
Mount Rainier at sunset over the South Sound · Photo: John Callery · Pexels
Schools
Nearly all Lakewood schools sit in Clover Park School District. A small western edge falls in Steilacoom Historical School District. Independent ratings linked, plus deeper data on the state's OSPI report card.
- Lakes High SchoolHigh school · Clover Park School District
- Clover Park High SchoolHigh school · Clover Park School District
- Harrison Preparatory SchoolGrades 6 to 12, International Baccalaureate · Clover Park School District
- Hudtloff Middle SchoolMiddle school · Clover Park School District
- Lochburn Middle SchoolMiddle school · Clover Park School District
- Tillicum Elementary SchoolElementary · Clover Park School District
- Clover Park School DistrictDistrictRatings on GreatSchools →
School assignment depends on the exact address. We check boundaries for any home you're considering, before you write an offer.
Common questions
Straight answers to what buyers ask us about Lakewood most.
Is Lakewood a good place to live?
We think it is the most underrated value play in the South Sound, and it is our team's backyard: five lakes, tree-lined streets, and JBLM's gates at the city's own exits.
How far is Lakewood from JBLM?
For most of the base the commute is minutes, not miles. JBLM's gates sit at Lakewood's own I-5 exits.
How do you commute from Lakewood to Seattle?
The Sounder S Line starts here. Lakewood Station on Pacific Highway has a 600-plus stall garage, and the ride to King Street Station runs about 75 minutes. Sound Transit's 594 express covers the same trip by bus.
What school district serves Lakewood?
The Clover Park School District, including Lakes and Clover Park high schools and Harrison Preparatory, an International Baccalaureate school for grades 6 to 12.
Nearby guides: Tacoma Greater Spanaway Puyallup
Photo: Russell Combs · Pexels
Curious what your budget buys in Lakewood?
One call gets you a straight answer, from people who work these streets every week.