Ruston is Tacoma ghetto,but trying hard to improve.UP, Lacey, and Steilacoom are all okay, just stay away from apartment complexes. Like a mile away at least if possible.

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East Olympia is a great neighborhood for a young family imo. Gig Harbor is probably the “nicest” area you mentioned but nothing really for kids. Olympia has a great children’s museum and parks. There are a lot of bums in Olympia if that freaks you out. University Place is pretty sad and grimy. Lacey is fine but pretty much just a bland suburb. Olympia has the best schools of the bunch I think. Good luck.

University Place is a nice area - has great parks like Chambers Bay, has both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods (a rarity in this area), and is close to Tacoma for events and restaurants. Steilacoom is much smaller and is a drive from a lot of amenities. Unless you are military, then Steilacoom is one of the best areas near post.

The sleeper pick is Edgewood WA

Gig Harbor is the nicest place on your list. Tons of young families, good schools but probably most expensive place on your list too

Another out of state person to outprice young people from their own communities. Woopie

Dupont and South Hill. Traffic sucks no matter where you are, but it's the worst on the I5 so I stay away from the Olympia and Tacoma area

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Steilacoom/DuPont would be my choice if I were in your shoes.

I grew up in Oly and I wish I could move back. Great schools (I went to Pioneer, Washington MS & Oly High), but also very white/not diverse. No matter where you live, you’ll have to deal with traffic.

Thanks, that's high on our list at the moment because we have family there. Seems like it is centrally located.

Haven't heard about UP being grimy, will need to do some exploration when we move. I have heard good things about Olympia, homeless.doesnt bother me I'm from Philly originally lol

Thats one of the new entries for us, is there a lot of traffic between there and say University Place area?

To be fair I'm from Florida, the number one state ppl are moving to and we are priced out of our own neighborhood. I get it, home prices are crazy. But it's like this is most places,.even rural areas have gotten way more expensive because work from home. But don't be mad at the people, it's really more about wages not keeping up with inflation, but I digress, that's a whole different topic.

Interesting. What's your take on Edgewood?

Really? I visited there and thought it was nice, is there a lot of crime there?

What about further away toward Bremerton or Port Orchard?

Not familiar with DuPont, will need to check that out. Thanks for the info!

That was our first choice before we started doing research. Now we are more or less focused anywhere from Oly to Ruston along the water, or maybe in the isles towards Gig or Bremerton/Port Orchard. But heard those weren't as nice, and schools not as good. But the houses in Bremerton were definitely the most affordable and nicest in terms of greenery and views.

A lot of theft and property ceime.

Bremerton is nice if you don't mind still feeling like you're in the city and want an easy commute to Seattle on the ferry, that way you don't have to park or drive in SEA. I'd go visit the area if you can, I just looked at a house there, it was pretty loud, tons of traffic all the time. It's a military based town pretty much and lots of crime, definitely look at the crime maps before considering an area. Port Orchard and Silverdale are nice, and Gig Harbor.

Awesome, thanks! That's really.helpful to know.

After years as a rural community (farming, timber, horse breeders, etc) Edgewood has opened up some of its community to new developments. Nicer new homes with bigger lots are going in and an emerging service sector is also building, plus new community parks. I like the fact that we’re close to 1-5 and 167 but nobody has reason to come to the community so traffic is quite low. Very small town feel. Try the area near Edgemont Middle school. My second pick is University Place.

Hey OP I know I’m a day late, but I’m actually a Realtor based out of Olympia. If you’d like to chat about the areas between here and there, feel free to DM me, I’d be happy to tell it to you straight firsthand about buying here.

Yea, thanks. I've pivoted again to maybe Port Orchard. Wary of traffic along the coast, and the houses are a little.more.affordablenat PO. Crime is actually a little lower than most nearby areas, about the same as Gig and University Place, and they also have good schools. What ainreally like is the elevation and trees in that area. I'm work from home so I can kind of pick the best place, and based on what I see available, prices, crime and schools I think that's our new focal point. Also read it stays cooler in the summer during hot spells because of the surrounding water, another plus. Not too sure about shopping and food, but seems big enough. Thoughts on that area?