Best Places to Live in South Sound (Pierce & Thurston Counties)
South Sound's five places split along port/industrial vs. state-government vs. waterfront-resort economic identity, and along military-installation proximity given Joint Base Lewis-McChord's substantial footprint across both Pierce and Thurston Counties.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreUrban Core and Port-Economy Movers
Tacoma is the clear pick for movers wanting a genuine, independent urban core with real port and logistics employment (the Port of Tacoma, operating jointly with Seattle as the Northwest Seaport Alliance, handled 3.2 million TEUs of cargo in 2025 and supports more than 265,000 jobs and nearly $55 billion in business output statewide) at meaningfully lower housing costs than Seattle. Tacoma's active downtown-revitalization story -- the Tacoma Town Center redevelopment (roughly 600 apartments, 240,000 square feet of retail) and the Rialto project, alongside the Museum of Glass and its 500-foot Chihuly Bridge of Glass -- makes it the region's strongest pick for movers wanting a real, currently improving urban environment rather than a finished, static one.
Military Families
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, one of the largest military installations in the western United States, sits directly within this region, straddling the Pierce-Thurston county line -- giving Tacoma, Lacey, and Olympia all genuine proximity to the base, with Lacey specifically sitting closest to JBLM's north end. This region carries a real, substantial military-relocation pattern distinct from the tech- and aerospace-driven moves that dominate the Seattle-Eastside and Snohomish County regions to the north.
State Government and Public-Sector Workers
Olympia is the unambiguous pick for anyone relocating for a Washington state government role -- state employment is a measurably dominant local economic driver here (budget analysts are employed at 6.86 times the national rate in the Olympia area), a genuinely different identity from every other South Sound city. Lacey offers a real, somewhat more affordable alternative within the same Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater government-employment orbit.
Waterfront and Family-Suburban Buyers
Gig Harbor is the clear pick for buyers specifically wanting Puget Sound waterfront and a boating-town lifestyle, at the region's highest price point. Puyallup suits families wanting an established suburban identity and the Washington State Fair's genuine, large-scale annual community event, without Gig Harbor's premium or Tacoma's more urban density.
Key takeaways
- Tacoma is the strongest pick for genuine urban-core living with real port/logistics employment, at meaningfully lower prices than Seattle, alongside an active, real downtown-revitalization story.
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord gives Tacoma, Lacey, and Olympia all real military-relocation relevance -- a distinct pattern from the tech/aerospace-driven moves further north in this state.
- Olympia is the clear pick for Washington state government employment, with Lacey offering a somewhat more affordable alternative in the same government-employment orbit.
- Gig Harbor leads for waterfront/boating-lifestyle buyers at the region's highest price point; Puyallup suits family-suburban buyers wanting an established community and the Washington State Fair's annual draw.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full South Sound (Pierce & Thurston Counties) overview for the complete picture, including every city and town we've researched in the area.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert