Home to the 250-acre Spanaway Lake, unincorporated Spanaway sits 10 miles from the busier, more urban city of Tacoma. "Spanaway is on the lower-priced side of the Washington housing market," says Vicky Marchenko, a local Realtor with John L. Scott Real Estate. "Compared to Tacoma, you can get the same house for $30,000 to $40,000 less. On the water, I've seen them go for $600,000." Home to just over 34,000 residents, Spanaway has a small-town feel. It’s adjacency to Joint Base Lewis-McPoint (JBLM) means there’s a strong military presence here, but many residents also work in healthcare at MultiCare hospitals and clinics between here and Tacoma. Spanaway shares a border with the smaller city of Parkland, giving residents access to walking trails through the city’s surrounding woods.
Mt.Rainier is visible from around the Spanaway neighborhood.
Brand new unsold homes in a new Spanaway neighborhood.
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Lakefront homes feature boating docks
The median home price in Spanaway is about $500,000, compared to Tacoma’s $480,000. “The value is in the space you can get for about the same amount of money,” says real estate agent Corey Lofton with the Washington State Real Estate Team. Four- and five-bedroom homes fall well under $700,000 here, and many are set on the lakefront or around the lake’s 11-acre island; private boat docks are common. The range of housing styles here include ranch-style homes, Craftsman-inspired new traditional homes and split-levels, often set on forested streets and cul-de-sacs. Single-family lakefront homes and newly constructed properties are often priced between $650,000 and $800,000, while manufactured homes and townhomes spread throughout the community can cost between $300,000 and $400,000.
There is a large variety of homes in Spanaway from new construction to established homes.
This Home Has Easy Access To The Water Via Its Private Dock.
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Natural open spaces and indoor ice skating
With the majority of Spanaway Lake fenced-in or on privately owned properties, Spanaway Park is the only way for visitors to access the water. The park offers paddle boat rentals from its boat house and a fishing dock — although it’s under construction as of early 2025. When the dock is operating, residents spend warm days there fishing for rock bass and yellow perch. In Parkland, the Sprinker Recreation Center is popular for its NHL regulation skating rink, skate park and sports fields. Just behind Sprinker, Bresemann Forest offers walking trails that lead through a 70-acre naturally wooded area that’s hugged by the small Spanaway Creek.
Diverse food scenes and downtown Tacoma
Most of Spanaway’s restaurants and retail are set along Route 7 (also known as Pacific Avenue), the main thoroughfare. Among a slew of fast-casual eateries, the street is lined with national retailers, grocery stores and diverse restaurants; Asian food has the most prominent presence here. While there are a few small, locally owned boutiques around town, residents often drive to Tacoma Mall for more options. Tacoma Mall is the largest shopping center in Pierce County, featuring 130 stores. As a larger city, Tacoma’s dining scene offers a bit more variety than Spanaway; seafood, craft breweries, taprooms and coffee shops are spread throughout the central business district, downtown Tacoma.
Safeway is one of the main grocery stores in Spanaway.
LA Fitness is one of the retail amenities for the Spanaway neighborhood.
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Virtual learning for students of all grades
Students are served by the Bethel School District, which gets a C-plus grade from Niche. Most high schoolers attend Spanaway High, however, a small portion of the town's south side is zoned for Bethel High. Students of all grade levels can attend the Bethel Virtual Academy. Nearby higher education options include Pacific Lutheran University, about 3 miles north, and Clover Park Technical College, about 8 miles north.
Spanaway Lake High School in Spanaway.
Spanaway Elementary School in Spanaway.
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Pacific Avenue leads to Tacoma
State Route 512 connects Spanaway to Interstate 5 in Lakewood, approximately 12 miles away, with Seattle about 35 miles north from there. Route 7 (Pacific Avenue) intersects with the 512 in nearby Parkland and leads to Tacoma in 10 miles. Spanaway’s walkability and bikeability are limited, with pedestrians and cyclists usually using road shoulders. Pierce Transit buses make several stops along Pacific Avenue, leading to Parkland, Tacoma and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Also known as Sea-Tac, Seattle-Tacoma is about 33 miles away.
Noise factors from JBLM
Law enforcement in Spanaway is handled by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD). According to the department's most recent data, from 2022, areas serviced by the PCSD report lower rates of property and violent crime than those in Pierce County overall.
Spanaway’s proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord means residents often hear weekly artillery and mortar training, as well as regular flights of helicopters and large military planes. JBLM tries to minimize disruption by announcing nighttime training and major exercises that might be noisy.
Being able to provide real estate services to members of the military is something Ashley prides herself in. As an Army wife, I understand the difficulties with new duty stations and being away from family, friends and "home".
Being uprooted and moved all while having to find a new home, in a new town, is never easy. That is why Ashley is passionate about what she does. It is her honor to help military families find their new homes. Her goal will always be to help ease the stresses of relocating.
With 7 years of experience of helping buyers and sellers in the greater March ARB, JBLM, and Pope/Fort Bragg areas, Ashley is well versed in the PCS process and all things real estate. Ashley not only helps her clients find a home but also a long-term investment to their future.
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.
