Family friendly Tacoma suburbs? (Seattle, Federal Way: new house, safe neighborhoods, good schools) - Washington (WA) - City-Data Forum

novamom · 07-20-2010, 04:19 PM

My husband is considering a job in downtown Tacoma. We live just outside of Washington, DC, so this would be a big move for us, and I know very little about the area. What I read online about the safety of Tacoma is a bit alarming, is it really as bad as people make it out to be? What are the areas that are considered good? We would be looking to spend less than $500,000 and our priority list (from most to least important) are:

1 - safe neighborhoods
2 - good schools (we have 3 young children)
3 - affordability
4 - commute to downtown Tacoma
5 - feeling of community
6 - activities for the kids (soccer programs, dance studios, etc close by)

Basically, we are looking for a pretty boring, suburban-y, family friendly area. Thanks in advance for anyone willing to point me in the right direction to start my search.

Ira500 · 07-20-2010, 04:53 PM

Tacoma really is not as bad as you've heard. Yes, there are some somewhat nasty parts, but there are also some really nice areas. If you're looking for something suburban outside of Tacoma, Gig Harbor would be a great choice. It's a fairly easy commute, it's safe, a pretty place with good schools, but it does involve a toll bridge. Another good choice would be University Place, which borders Tacoma and also has good schools. Not quite as dazzlingly pretty as Gig harbor, but safe and nice.
And finally, if you wanted to consider living within the Tacoma city limits itself, the Proctor District is an awesome neighborhood that sure doesn't feel like a city. Feels like a friendly small town, has better schools than other Tacoma neighborhoods, and some really charming houses, with easy access to all the good things about Tacoma.

bobbyandlorrie · 07-22-2010, 01:29 AM

look into university place, n.e. tacoma, milton, edgewood those give you a start Good Luck from Tacoma:-)

novamom · 07-22-2010, 09:18 AM

Thank you both for your suggestions. Question about Gig Harbor - is there "stuff" there? As in, am I going to have to come across a toll bridge anytime I need to run to Target?

Ira500 · 07-22-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novamom

Thank you both for your suggestions. Question about Gig Harbor - is there "stuff" there? As in, am I going to have to come across a toll bridge anytime I need to run to Target?

Gig Harbor has a Target store.

Luke9686 · 07-22-2010, 07:51 PM

I second giving the city itself a shot. The schools in the Proctor area are pretty good too, I hear... We lived there and loved it.

MomInVA · 07-23-2010, 07:41 AM

Hi there..

I'm originally from Sumner/Bonney Lake, WA area (born and raised) but moved to Ashburn, VA (near Dulles airport) for the last 8 years. I'm going to be biased and say, take a look at Bonney Lake/Sumner or even Puyallup/South Hill area. Every time I go home to visit my mom, who still lives in Bonney Lake, it seems to get nicer and nicer.. A lot has grown since.

Edit* I met new houses being built (when I said nicer and nicer)

novamom · 07-23-2010, 08:07 AM

How far is the commute to Bonney Lake and Puyallup to the downtown area?

MomInVA · 07-23-2010, 10:36 AM

Puyallup is closer to Tacoma than Bonney Lake or Sumner.. Bonney Lake is up in the foothills and Sumner is down in the Valley. Sumner has the Sounder stop to it that looks like it goes into Tacoma (don't quote me on this cause, it was built after I left) (it's kind of like Metro here but it's above ground) I think driving into Tacoma from Bonney Lake could take 20- 35 mins but I wouldn't think it would be as bad as here in VA.. like the beltway.. I think if you were to move to Gig Harbor you'll have the traffic of people going into Seattle/Kent/Renton or around there (like the Boeing employees) but if you were to look into Sumner or Bonney Lake (I would think he would be going into the opposite direction of traffic, like driving from McLean to Leesburg) Now on the way home it could take longer because of people going home from all sort of directions whether it be from the Seattle direction or Tacoma direction and that goes for Gig Harbor too... Sumner/Bonney Lake seems to be kind of a half-way point between Tacoma and Seattle than Puyallup... You have Federal Way and Fife that are in- between the two from I-5 ... all I can tell you is I miss home a lot.. It's not humid like it has been here.. I have a friend who I went to school with who is a Realtor, I can give you her name if you want me to... Again, it's been awhile since I've lived there...I could be wrong, I know things have changed a lot since then.... You'll have a lot of Boeing traffic..My mom works for Boeing; She does carpool so maybe your husband can also look into carpooling..

Take a look at Gig Harbor too.. It's been ages since I've gone through there... I would just hate to do Narrows bridge everyday....

Inkpoe · 07-23-2010, 11:11 AM

With Puyallup, you have to make sure you're in the right area because it's becoming more... "ghetto" (WA has no real ghettos, but just undesirable areas). South Hill is just too busy with lots of traffic.

The new bridge has better flow of traffic than it did before, but remember: the toll bridge. You would be paying to leave Gig Harbor. Gig Harbor probably would take less then 30 minutes to Tacoma even in traffic. And luckily, you wouldn't have to deal with i5 bottleneck, just whiz through town and get off city exit onto 16.

I do agree with one of the posters: University Place. That's definitely a hidden gem.