Where should I be looking for a place to live at JBLM?

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 12:34:45 -0500

You were all helpful on the move to Fort Hood, so time to ask the question again! PCSing to Fort Lewis (JBLM) in the next few weeks. I'm single this time, looking for at least a 2 bedroom without breaking the bank. Dog, cat. I'll be working on the airfield (Army side?). Want to be somewhere between 10-25 minutes away from work. My gaining unit has stuff coming up soon so I've also been considering looking for a roommate situation for a month or two until that's done, and then find my own more permanent place. Pros and cons of surrounding areas? As always, thanks for the input fellas!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 4 at 2019 12:44 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 12:44:52 -0500

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member Cost of Living Wise I would Recommend Frederickson, WA.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2019 2:03 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 14:03:45 -0500

Depends on what’s important to you. Most officers tend to move to Dupont. Perpare to spend more then all your BAH though. I was more intrested in buying a home with some land, but keeping my commute to about 1/2 an hour. I choose Graham as a result.
If you want small apartment life close to everything you could look to lakewood town centre, and be only 7 minutes from post, although I feel that area has gone down hill recently. It really depends on your life style? You want a house with lots of land, look towards Elk Plain, Fredrickson, Graham, Roy. You want to be right next to post and not commute, look to Dupont and Lakewood.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jan 4 at 2019 2:33 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 14:33:14 -0500

Hi Joel,
Here are some related discussions that might help. Some of them are a little dated but the information may still be valuable:

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/whats-the-best-place-to-live-near-fort-lewis
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/pcs-to-jblm-fort-lewis
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/pcsing-to-fort-lewis-51st-esb-what-experiences-do-you-have-to-share-such-as-the-area-do-s-and-don-ts-housing-unit
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/pcs-ing-to-jblm-soon
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/pcsing-to-jblm-next-year
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/pcsing-to-jblm-general-lewis-mcchord

Whats the best place to live near Fort Lewis? | RallyPoint

I'm at North Fort and I've seen a few good places, mostly in Lakewood or Lacey. Married, no kids, don't wanna blow my whole BAH.

Response by CPL(P) Shelby Weaver made Jan 4 at 2019 3:44 PM

CPL(P) Shelby Weaver — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 15:44:05 -0500

If you wanna keep some of you BAH but still live in a nice area I recommend Lacey, it is a drive though.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2019 6:19 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 18:19:30 -0500

I lived in Steilacoom and loved it. Decent apartments for decent prices. The area and people are great and there's a great dog park.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2019 9:26 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 21:26:55 -0500

Lacey is awesome that’s where I lived however if you like more secluded go to Roy or Yelm. Also DuPont is really nice and right outside of base

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2019 6:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 06:24:06 -0500

Anywhere off post minus Dupont is going to be a long commute. What I mean by that is traffic is terrible. I would recommend Yelm area if you don't want to live in Dupont. The back gate from that direction would take you right by the airfield. It has less of a big city vibe. Lacey is going to be less congested but that I-5 traffic still easily makes it down there. Essentially everything along I-5 (Tacoma, Lacey, Olympia) will be congested due to Seattle traffic. Puyallup is just as bad when it comes to traffic as well. I am not trying to be negative but the congestion is why my wife and I weren't crazy about JBLM. Stillicum is worth checking out, but pricey. Other than the traffic, the rain is not awful if you don't have little kids cooped up. There is plenty of hiking and touristy things to do in the area. Enjoy it out there!

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2019 3:27 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 15:27:56 -0500

Yelm, its south of jblm and has a walmart.

Response by SGT Jason Keefer made Jan 5 at 2019 8:58 PM

SGT Jason Keefer — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:58:35 -0500

I stayed in a relatively nice apt in Lacey, short drive to the Dupont gate. But, far enough to avoid the chaos of Lakewood.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2019 9:10 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 21:10:32 -0500

Lacey is nice an has things but is a little further and you'd have to take the interstate to work. Dupont is closer but there is nothing there. Steilacoom is a nice little village on the Sound but the neighborhoods are getting old. Puyallup isn't too bad but the neighborhoods are also getting old. I live in Lacey as do most of my friends and i wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

Response by SGT Larry Michael Bleckler II made Jan 5 at 2019 11:55 PM

SGT Larry Michael Bleckler II — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 23:55:42 -0500

Olympia, Lacey, Puyallup, Auburn Washington are all nice places. Lakewood if you want real cheap but crime can be a factor to consider I was stationed there from 94-98 I was single and loved living outside Puyallup. Good luck and ask around most people are friendly .

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 5:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 05:36:23 -0500

I'm not sure about officers but one of my Lieutenants lives in Dupont. A little more expensive than Tacoma but cheaper than Lacey. I live in Lacey,its definitely worth the price. Near Martin Way or living in Tumwater is better. Nice surrounding area.

Response by CW2 Stephen Pate made Jan 6 at 2019 3:19 PM

CW2 Stephen Pate — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 15:19:27 -0500

So like most others are saying, you're either gonna find a cheaper, closer place to base, but you may be in a higher crime, kinda crappy area or pay out the nose. Dupont is nice and close but expensive. I've lived in Yelm and have done that commute for over 5 years now and it's not bad. The only apartments I know of out here run you about 1500-1600 on the low end. There's not much out here in that aspect, but plenty of houses. It's quiet, peaceful, and far enough away from base, but still has most of what you might need. Lacey is about the same distance, but don't live in the apartments by the Costco! There's a mushroom farm that will stink up your life over there!

Response by SGT Cody Skinner made Jan 7 at 2019 9:10 AM

SGT Cody Skinner — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 09:10:47 -0500

When My Wife and I lived up there we loved living in Steilacoom. It was a beautiful Area and just off of North Fort. I could sit on the Back Porch which looked out over the Carr Inlet and Nisqually Reach, relax with a cup of coffee and listen to/watch the Seals play and had deer in the back yard area. It was an amazing place to live. Though I will warn you to take a Riot Baton and/or Bat to the Mail Box with you to deal with the biggest damn super fat Raccoons that will get a bit territorial sometimes.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jan 11 at 2019 11:24 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 23:24:12 -0500

I was on the other side of country at Langley AFB(now Eustis-Langley).
And found a place that had one big bedroom so I divided with a large book
Case from living area and put a soffet at the top at middle off case. And hung a big serape that just covered the back.. I was lucky . I hope the best of good fortune for you Sir !