Steilacoom, WA

Steilacoom sits on a forested hillside overlooking Puget Sound, with the Olympic Mountains rising across the water. It holds the title of Washington’s oldest incorporated town, founded in the 1850s on ancestral Steilacoom tribal land. If you walk or drive downtown, you might notice the street grid abruptly shifts angles near Union Avenue, a quirky leftover from when two rival founders built competing settlements side by side. Early plans for a massive railroad terminal and shipping port shifted to Tacoma, leaving Steilacoom to develop into a peaceful, historic waterfront community filled with 19th-century cottages, leafy sidewalks, and expansive saltwater views.

ATTREusebius1517 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Daily life here centers on the water and a tight-knit neighborhood feel. Pierce County ferries depart from the foot of Union Avenue to Anderson and Ketron islands, so you will often hear boat horns drifting across the bay. On sunny weekends, locals head down to Sunnyside Beach for shoreline walks, picnics, and scuba diving, or gather on the lawn at Pioneer Park for summer concerts. Fall brings beloved community traditions like the annual Apple Squeeze and Salmon Bake downtown. Families are served by the well-regarded Steilacoom Historical School District. The town has a handful of cozy cafes and local eateries, while major grocery runs, shopping, and commutes take you just a few minutes down the road to Lakewood, Tacoma, or Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

ATTRJoe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0

If you are house hunting here, keep a few practical details in mind alongside the postcard views. If you fall in love with one of the character-rich older homes in the historic district, check the local preservation guidelines before planning exterior renovations. Waterfront and hillside properties offer incredible sunsets, though you will want a thorough inspection of drainage, retaining walls, and slope stability. An active coastal rail line runs right along the water, so spend time in the neighborhood to see how train sounds and ferry traffic fit your routine. Steilacoom even operates its own municipal electric, water, and sewer services. For anyone looking for a quiet, small-town atmosphere within an easy drive of the South Sound's job centers, it is a wonderful place to settle down.