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Steel Lake

Steel Lake

Neighborhood in Federal Way, Washington

King County 98003

$589,516 Average Value
$348 Average Price per Sq Ft
5 Homes For Sale

Lakeside living on the shores of King County

On the southern shores of King County, Washington, Steel Lake is a neighborhood with lakeside living. Federal Way's hilly landscape descends on a downhill slope where vegetation grows thicker and more vibrant by the glimmering surface of Steel Lake, a significant body of water known for its park facilities next to retail and local schools. "Steel Lake is a go-to destination on a major bus line," says Zander Spain Greene, Communications & Program Coordinator at the Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce. "You see a lot of people going to swim in the summer. People can also shop and visit the restaurants, and kids hang out at the skate park after school."

Elevated ranch-style homes by the lake

Pine trees tower above elevated homes overlooking the calm waters of Steel Lake. While the area is part of a public park, many homes have private docks, patios and boat launches. "The Steel Lake neighborhood is close to the school and the lake, and it has a large affordable selection of new homes," says Lanae Miller, Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Mountain to Sound Realty with over 20 years of experience. "There's also an access ramp directly onto Interstate 5 for people driving to Tacoma and Seattle daily." Steel Lake features classic single-level and raised ranch-style homes alongside split levels. Home prices typically range from $400,000 to $700,000, while brand-new builds or homes surrounding Steel Lake cost around $700,000 to $900,000. The Overlook is a three-story condominium complex on 18th Avenue with prices between $250,000 and $350,000.

This stunning ranch home has a bright green exterior and perfect lawn.
This stunning ranch home has a bright green exterior and perfect lawn.
A row of beautiful ranch style homes in the Steel Lake neighborhood.
A row of beautiful ranch style homes in the Steel Lake neighborhood.
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Steel Lake Park is bustling in the summer

Steel Lake Park is a 53-acre green space with a sandy beach for swimming and boat launches for kayaking or boating on a 250-acre lake stocked with rainbow trout. With a concession stand for snacks and picnic areas, Steel Lake also includes beach volleyball, a skate park and a sprawling wooden playground that resembles a medieval castle. Wildwood Park's paved trail wanders through the forest to a shady jungle gym and picnic areas. Sacajawea Park encompasses sports facilities, including football fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and a running track on an 18-acre area next to Sacajawea Middle School.

teel Lake Park is a family-friendly park with a lake, a play structure, and concessions.
teel Lake Park is a family-friendly park with a lake, a play structure, and concessions.
Steel Lake Park is a wonderful place to for families with kids.
Steel Lake Park is a wonderful place to for families with kids.
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Federal Way High School's "Fed Talks"

Wildwood Elementary receives a C overall grade from Niche, and students can join the Elementary Track and Field Program, which doubles as a grassroots guide to sports. Sacajawea Middle School also maintains a C and has a Cambridge Academy program, which prepares students to transition into university-level coursework. Federal Way High School earns a B, and graduating students can return to give “Fed Talks,” which are presentations that share life lessons with the upcoming classes.

Wildwood Elementary School greets children in Federal Way, WA.
Wildwood Elementary School greets children in Federal Way, WA.
Sacajawea Middle School
Sacajawea Middle School
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Retail in the city center

The city center offers retail, supermarkets and restaurants just south of Steel Lake. In Pavilions Centre, retail chains like Barnes & Noble sit alongside quaint Asian cafes and tea shops like 85°C, a Taiwanese-inspired bakery and café that serves boba tea, coffee and cakes. For dinner, Mirak Korean BBQ is a buffet-style restaurant with marinated briskets, ribs and steak that customers cook on interactive tabletop grills. Walmart is on 314th Street, while H Mart is a supermarket on Pacific Highway.

85 degrees has some delicious cakes and pastries you won't find anywhere else.
85 degrees has some delicious cakes and pastries you won't find anywhere else.
Mirak Korean offers authentic Korean dish's in Federal Way.
Mirak Korean offers authentic Korean dish's in Federal Way.
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Car-dependent with an upcoming light rail

Steel Lake is a car-dependent neighborhood bordered by Route 99 and I-5, easily accessible from 320th Street. Sound Transit provides public transportation with bus stops along Pacific Highway. A light rail is also being built, with stations in Star Lake and Downtown Federal Way, that will connect the surrounding cities after its completion in 2026. Tacoma is about 14 miles south on I-5, while Seattle is roughly 22 miles north. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offers air travel for Federal Way residents.

Jackson Hardy
Written By
Jackson Hardy
Perry Cucinotta
Photography Contributed By
Perry Cucinotta
Tyler Hall
Video By
Tyler Hall

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Lanae Miller, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Seattle-Tacoma International

21 min drive

Bus

28th Ave S & S 308th Ln

Bus

S 312th St & 20th Ave S

Bus

Pacific HWY S & S 312th St

Bus

Pacific HWY S & S 308th St

Bus

28th Ave S & S 312th St

Bus

S 312th St & 23rd Ave S

Bus

S 304th St & Military Rd S

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Steel Lake US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 5 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 6 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$700,000
Median Single Family Price
$700,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$247,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$348
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Last 12 months Home Sales
41
Months of Supply
1.50
Median List Price
$664,975
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
4%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,127
Median Year Built
1967
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,744
Below the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,126
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
886
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,147

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Lanae Miller, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has Equal Renters and Owners

Demographics

Total Population
5,040
Median Age
38
Population under 18
24%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$78,925
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$89,457

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
85.1%
College Graduates
26%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.9%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
37°F
Average Summer High Temperature
77°F
Annual Snowfall
2''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

44 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Walk Score®

68 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

42 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Reviews

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Steel Lake