Living in Lakewood, WA

Quick answer: Lakewood is a Pierce County city of about 65,000 people, south of Tacoma and right next to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with lakes like American Lake and Gravelly Lake and 340-acre Fort Steilacoom Park. The typical home value was about $510,200 in September 2026, roughly the same as a year earlier, according to Zillow. Here’s what to know about living, buying and selling in Lakewood, with sources for every number.

Updated November 2026. Our Tacoma office is at 9621 Golden Given Rd E.

Lakewood at a glance

“Typical home value” is Zillow’s estimate for a middle-priced home, not a sale price. For actual sales, see the Pierce County housing market page, which we update every month with official NWMLS numbers.

A young city with a long history

Lakewood officially became a city on February 28, 1996, the seventh-largest in Washington at the time, according to HistoryLink. The area’s story is much older:

• Fort Steilacoom: the Army fort on the prairie south of Chambers Creek was the first permanent settlement within today’s Lakewood. Western State Hospital still operates on the old fort grounds.
• The lakes: wealthy residents built fine homes around American Lake, and the Tacoma Country & Golf Club moved there in 1904.
• Lakewood Colonial Center: built in 1937 with shops, a theater and a colonial-themed grocery, it’s still one of the city’s named districts.
• The base next door: Camp Lewis opened in 1917, and it merged with McChord Field in 2010 to form Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Areas you’ll hear about

The City of Lakewood’s own plans and neighborhood groups use these names: Downtown (around Lakewood Towne Center), Colonial Center, the Lakewood Station District, Tillicum, Woodbrook, Lake City, Oakbrook, Fort Steilacoom, Custer and Springbrook. Every street is different. If you’d like to compare two neighborhoods side by side, ask us and we’ll pull recent sales for both.

Living next to JBLM

The city says Joint Base Lewis-McChord is adjacent to Lakewood, and that Lakewood is home to thousands of service members and their families. If you’re buying, know two things the city points out:

• Air corridor zones: the city maps Air Corridor zones tied to McChord Field, where C-17s fly.
• Training noise: the city notes that artillery training on the base can be heard.

Ask us to check whether a specific home is in an air corridor zone before you make an offer.

Schools and colleges

Lakewood is served by the Clover Park School District, which covers 68 square miles including Lakewood and JBLM, serves more than 12,000 students (about 4,000 from military families) and runs 23 schools.

• High schools: Clover Park High School and Lakes High School, plus Harrison Prep School and Gravelly Lake K-12 Academy
• Middle schools: Hudtloff, Lochburn and Dr. Claudia Thomas
• Elementary schools: 16 across the district
• Colleges: Pierce College Fort Steilacoom (140 acres in Lakewood) and Clover Park Technical College’s Lakewood campus

School boundaries can change, so always check a specific address with the district before you buy.

Parks and lakes

• Fort Steilacoom Park: 340 acres, with a paved trail of nearly a mile around Waughop Lake and 22 acres of fenced off-leash dog area.
• American Lake Park: a 5-acre park on the north shore of American Lake, the largest lake in the area, with a public boat launch and a swimming beach.
• Harry Todd Park: a 17-acre lakefront park in Tillicum with playfields, a swimming beach, a fishing pier and boat docks.
• Lakewold Gardens: a historic estate with 10 acres of gardens on Gravelly Lake.

Getting around

• Sounder train: Lakewood Station is the southern end of Sound Transit’s S Line, which runs through Tacoma, Puyallup, Auburn and Kent to King Street Station in Seattle. Some trips don’t serve Lakewood, so check the schedule.
• Buses: Pierce Transit’s Lakewood Transit Center (Lakewood Towne Center) has routes to downtown Tacoma, South Hill, Pierce College and Tillicum/JBLM.
• Park and ride: the SR-512 Park-and-Ride is in the Lakewood Station District.
• Base gates: JBLM’s gates are off I-5, including Madigan Gate at exit 122 and Liberty Gate at exit 120, according to the base.

Buying a home in Lakewood

• Know your payment first. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.24% on October 29, 2026, according to Freddie Mac. Get pre-approved so you know what fits before you tour.
• See new homes first. Set up new listing alerts, or search every home for sale.
• Check the address. Confirm the school, the commute, any air corridor zone, flood maps and HOA rules for the exact home, not just the city.

Selling a home in Lakewood

• Start with a real number. A price based on recent sales near you matters more than a citywide average. Get a free home value.
• Watch the county trend. In October 2026, Pierce County had 20% more homes for sale than a year earlier and about 3.9 months of inventory, so pricing and preparation matter. See the latest county numbers.

Nearby

Looking around the South Sound? See the Pierce County housing market, or living in Puyallup, Spanaway, Lacey and Olympia.

Common questions

What is the average home price in Lakewood, WA?

Zillow’s typical home value for Lakewood was $510,189 in September 2026, about the same as $508,743 a year earlier. For actual sales across Pierce County, the median sale price was $560,000 in October 2026, according to NWMLS.

Is Lakewood, WA next to JBLM?

Yes. The City of Lakewood says Joint Base Lewis-McChord is adjacent to the city, and thousands of service members and their families live in Lakewood. The city notes Air Corridor zones and training noise, so check the specific address.

What school district is Lakewood, WA in?

The Clover Park School District, which serves Lakewood and JBLM. Its comprehensive high schools are Clover Park and Lakes. Always check the specific address with the district.

Is there a train from Lakewood to Seattle?

Yes. Lakewood Station is the southern end of Sound Transit’s Sounder S Line, which runs to King Street Station in Seattle. Some trips skip Lakewood, so check the schedule.

When did Lakewood become a city?

Lakewood incorporated on February 28, 1996, according to HistoryLink. The area’s history goes back much further, to Fort Steilacoom.

Talk to a local agent

Thinking about buying or selling in Lakewood? Visit Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Northwest Home Team at 9621 Golden Given Rd E in Tacoma, call (360) 529-0992, or find a local agent.

Sources

• Washington State Office of Financial Management, April 1, 2026 Population of Cities, Towns and Counties
• Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index (Lakewood, all homes, September 2026)
• HistoryLink, Lakewood incorporates on February 28, 1996
• City of Lakewood: Military, JBLM economic impact, Subarea plans, Neighborhood connections, Fort Steilacoom Park, American Lake Park, Harry Todd Park
• Clover Park School District, Our District
• Pierce College, campus maps; Clover Park Technical College; Lakewold Gardens
• Sound Transit, S Line; Pierce Transit, Transit centers; JBLM, Gate information
• NWMLS monthly market recap, October 2026 (Pierce County median sale price, active listings, months of inventory)
• Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey, October 29, 2026