Your local guide to homes, neighborhoods, and life in Lakewood, Washington.
Whether you’re thinking about buying your first home, relocating to the area, selling your current home, or simply exploring everything Lakewood has to offer, this guide was created to help you make confident decisions with local insight.
“Why Lakewood?”
Why People Love Living in Lakewood, WA
Located in the heart of Pierce County, Lakewood offers a unique mix of natural beauty, established neighborhoods, convenient commuting, and community connection. From lakefront living near American Lake and Lake Steilacoom to neighborhoods close to parks, schools, shopping, and JBLM, Lakewood offers a variety of options for different lifestyles and stages of life.
🏡 Buying in Lakewood
Learn about:
- First-time buyer programs
- Condo vs house decisions
- Neighborhood comparisons
- Affordability
📍 Explore Lakewood Communities
Learn about:
- Neighborhoods
- Condo communities
- Parks
- Local businesses
- Upcoming Events
🏠 Selling Your Lakewood Home
Learn about:
- Market trends
- Home preparation
- Pricing strategies
- Equity decisions
Featured Lakewood Guides
✔ The Real Cost of Owning a Condo in Lakewood
✔ What $500K Gets You in Tacoma vs Lakewood vs Spanaway
✔ JBLM Relocation Guide
✔ First Time Buyers in Lakewood
Local Insight From Lavita
As a lifelong Pierce County resident and Lakewood Realtor, my goal is to provide practical information that helps buyers and sellers understand their options. Real estate is more than finding a house; it’s about choosing a community, building stability, and making decisions that support your future goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Lakewood, WA
Is Lakewood, WA a good place to buy a home?
I’ve called Lakewood home since 2004, so I might be a little biased, but absolutely; YES, Lakewood is a wonderful community to buy a home! It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a modest starter home or a luxury dream home. You’ll find it here. Lakewood has something for everybody.
How far is Lakewood from JBLM?
If you are not familiar with traveling in Washington State, you might be surprised to learn that when a local is asked about the distance from one location to another, we respond by telling you how many minutes it will take to get there. We rarely tell you how many miles away something is, but for this purpose, I’ll go ahead and include the distance, not just share how long it takes to get around. .
First off, I should probably share Lakewood is one of the closest Pierce County communities to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), with many neighborhoods located just minutes from base. Depending on where you live in Lakewood and which JBLM gate you use, the commute is typically about 5-20 minutes and approximately 2–10 miles. Even from the far west side of Lakewood past Lake Steilacoom and bordering University Place, most residents can make it to JBLM in around 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic and which gate they are headed to.
What types of homes are available in Lakewood?
You will find a wide variety of homes here in Lakewood, When it comes to style, expect to find plenty of mid-century classic ramblers or you might call them ranches; depending on what part of the country you’re coming from. You’ll also find modern PNW contemporary style homes along with large traditional homes. Yes, we have a few communities with HOAs, but they are not widespread throughout Lakewood. It is pretty normal to see attached garages, large lots, and mature landscaping.
Are there condos in Lakewood, WA?
When it comes to condo living, you’ll find plenty to choose from in Lakewood. There are smaller complexes with only a few units to large established condominiums. Amenities vary just as much as the size and age of local condo communities.
What should buyers know before moving to Lakewood?
This is the kind of place where people want to put down roots! We are right outside of Joint Base Lewis-McChord and have a vibrant culture filled with pride and gratitude for our servicemembers.
A couple fun facts you might want to know:
-You don’t have to go to Europe to see a real castle. Lakewood has the Thornewood Castle. Parts of the home came from a centuries-old English manor that was dismantled, shipped to Washington, and incorporated into the Lakewood estate. Construction began in 1907 and was completed in 1911.
-We currently have 13 Roundabouts throughout the city to keep traffic flowing and you either love them or hate them. Most are located near JBLM access gates. Prior to 2019, Lakewood only had three roundabouts in the entire city. Now we have single roads like Washington Blvd with three roundabouts by itself. Believe me when I tell you, longtime residents have some pretty strong opinions about these traffic revisions.
-We have more Teriyaki restaurants than Starbucks.
-Lakewood isn’t just a name….We actually have seven lakes and hundreds of thousands of trees throughout the city’s approximate 19 square miles.
