Millie

Lakewood

About

Incorporated in 1996, Lakewood is located just outside JBLM and is considered the base’s host community. It boasts several lakes, parks and golf courses in keeping with the emphasis on outdoor recreation that is a common in the Pacific Northwest. Lakewood offers affordable housing and a very short commute to JBLM and for these reasons is attractive to many military families. Amenities like shopping and dining are in great supply and there’s a fantastic farmer’s market in the summer! The gate to McChord Air Base is directly adjacent to Lakewood and I-5 runs through town giving great access to Tacoma, Olympia, and even Seattle.

Neighbors

You’ll find an abundance of military residents — young singles and families — residing in Lakewood.

Neighborhood Feel

Homes here tend to be on the smaller side and a bit more dated, having mostly been built in the 1960 to 1990 timeframe. There are pockets of nice houses (even grand lakefront mansions) mixed in with some that haven’t been quite as well maintained, so we recommend doing your research.

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Neighborhood Location

Commute
McChord Main Gate (exit 125)
Drive Time to Gate
5 to 10 minutes
By Transit
2 minutes – Lakewood Station to Pacific HWY/Bridgeport
10 minutes – Lakewood TC to Pacific HWY/Bridgeport

Neighborhood Info

Lakewood - Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA - gomillie.com

Points of Interest

American Lake Park

Historic Lakewold Gardens

Fort Steilacoom Park

Thornewood Castle

Big Plus

Lakewood Towne Center can fulfill all your shopping/dining/entertainment wants and needs.  

As the name suggests, Lakewood is home to several lakes and on-water recreation is a favorite pastime.

Homes are affordable, but will most likely be smaller and need TLC.

Things to Consider

Higher crime rates are a concern here and you should look into safety. Hit-or-miss areas are fairly prevalent and it is not recommended to rent/buy sight unseen in this area.    

Homes can be less-than cared for and some areas are particularly run down. If you find a home in good repair, still consider its surroundings for the long term outlook on your investment.

How’s the Market?

The median home value is $239,900 according to the Zillow Home Value Index.

Home Values are forecasted to increase by 4.8% in the coming year.

According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single-family homes in the Lakewood area is $1,690.

School Scoop

Lakewood contains 17 schools. The public schools in Lakewood belong to Clover Park School District.

While some of the schools in this area have “medium” scores, according to GreatSchools.org rankings, the district as a whole scores a 5 and 62% of its students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Evaluate the whole picture and be sure to interview the schools when deciding to purchase or rent in this district. Any student zoned to a Title I school (there are several in this district – including its highest rated school, Tillicum Elementary) has the right to attend a higher performing school within the district. Title I Schools are schools that have been granted supplemental funds by the government based a high number or high percentage of low income students in attendance to help bridge the achievement gap.  

Highlighted Areas

Gravelly Lake Drive

Oakbrook

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