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Tacoma, Washington (Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Joint Base)

PCSing  to Tacoma, Washington (Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Joint Base)

When you get a PCS to Lewis-McChord Joint Base, you are in for a rich and exciting experience!

Living on-base has its own advantages, you have a well-managed community and you don’t need to worry about security of your family when you are away. Off-base life also has its own benefits to offer, with the best being the ability to adjust your lifestyle according to your preferences.

Lewis-McChord On-Base Housing 

On-base housing on Lewis-McChord Joint base is managed and maintained by Equity Residential. Since 2002, Lewis-McChord communities have renovated almost 2200 existing homes and built over 800 new homes. The community is divided in to a number of neighborhoods and each has something different to offer its residents. 

Schools Near Lewis-McChord

• Faith Lutheran School
• Puget Sound Christian School
• Pierce County Catholic School
• Saint Patrick Catholic School

Although there are few schools on base, but there are a lot of off-base schools as well serving the Lewis-McChord community.

Gas And Electric Utilities

All gas and electric utilities are included in your Basic Allowance for Housing. However, this might not be the case if you choose to live off-base. Living off-base, usually requires you to pay the rent and the bills separately. 

Off-Base Housing Near Lewis-McChord

There a lot of options to live off-base near to the Lewis-McChord Joint Base.

Steilacoom (8 miles from base)

• Prices start at $160,000 for 3 bed, 2 bath residences
• Rentals start at $445 for a 2 bed, 1 bath unit

Spanaway (12 miles from base) 

• Prices start at $169,000 for 3 bed, 2 bath residences
• Rentals start at $600 for a 2 bed, 1 bath unit

Lacey (13 miles from base)

• Prices start at $219,000 for 3 bed, 2 bath residences
• Rentals start at $530 for a 1 bed, 1 bath unit

Olympia (16 miles from base)

• Prices start at $189,000 for 3 bed, 2 bath residences
• Rentals start at $590 for a 2 bed, 1 bath unit

Tacoma (14 miles from base)

• Prices start at $149,000 for 3 bed, 2 bath residences
• Rentals start at $590 for a 2 bed, 1 bath unit

Lakewood (6 miles from base)

• Prices start at $229,000 for 3 bed, 2 bath residences
• Rentals start at $525 for a 1 bed, 1 bath unit

Schools

If you decide to live off-base you have access to a lot of schools. Some of them are:

• Grant Elementary
• Jefferson Elementary
• Fern Hill Elementary
• Franklin Elementary
• Geiger Elementary
• Jason Lee Middle School
• Edison Elementary
• Fawcett Elementary
• Mason Middle School
• Gray Middle School
• Mt Tahoma High School
• Meeker Middle School
• Stewart Middle School
• Truman Middle School
• Lincoln High School
• Larchmont Elementary
• Lister Elementary
• Oakland Altar High School
• Stadium High School
• Wilson High School

Local Attractions

• Fort Steilacoom Park
• Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
• Millersylvania State Park
• Mount Rainier National Park
• Priest Point Park
• American Lake Park
• Rainier Vista Community Park
• Wards Lake Park
• Rainbow Falls State Park
• Sea quest State Park

Before you decide between off-base and on-base, when you get a PCS, it is always advisable to take a leave and come down and visit with your family. This will give you a pre-insight of which option is better. If are more inclined to moving off-base, you’ll be able to collect valuable information on houses and apartments. This way you’ll be able to decide what the best deal you can get is. Best of luck!