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About Bonney Lake, WA

About Bonney Lake, WA

A lakeside city in the Tacoma suburbs

Lakeside homes, waterfront parks and suburban subdivisions are woven between thick stands of evergreens in Bonney Lake, a small city situated on the banks of Lake Tapps. Located about 15 miles east of Tacoma, it’s one of the last stops on State Route 410 before the suburbs give way to the vast Pacific Northwest forests. “It’s close enough to get to Tacoma and Seattle, but it’s also a gateway to the Cascade Mountain Range. It’s only an hour to Mount Rainier and Crystal Mountain ski resort,” says Realtor Shawn Maxey of Terry Wise & Associates, who grew up in Bonney Lake. The city's location between big cities and natural scenery has helped put it on the map in recent years. “It was pretty rural when I was growing up. Now it’s a bit busier,” Maxey says.

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Stunning estate home on the shores of Lake Tapps in Bonney Lake.
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Lake Tapps Park North offers unprecedented views of Mt.Rainier for Bonney Lake residents.
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Waterfront parks and proximity to Mount Rainier

Bonney Lake sits at the southern edge of Lake Tapps, a chilly, glacier-fed reservoir. Activity around the lake livens up in the summer as people head to the waterfront for boating, fishing, swimming and water-skiing. Allan Yorke Park sits right on the water’s edge and features walking trails, a playground and a skate park. The city is 25 miles from Mount Rainier National Park, a massive wilderness park that’s situated around the tallest peak in the state.

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The Edge's skatepark in Bonney Lake is friendly for skateboarders of all ages.
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Lake Tapps Park is the perfect summer hangout in Bonney Lake.
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Midcentury and contemporary homes

The city features a diverse array of architectural styles, with everything from modest midcentury designs built between the 1950s and 80s to brand-new, contemporary homes. Many of the community’s older homes sit near the Lake Tapps shoreline, including some that look directly out across the water. Newer subdivisions are also available, the largest of which is Tehaleh, a sprawling master-planned community still being built out. When it’s complete, it will have more than 6,000 homes in addition to its own schools, grocery stores and shops. “You won’t have to leave the neighborhood. Everything you need will be right there,” Maxey says. The median price for a single-family home in Bonney Lake is $700,000, markedly higher than in nearby Tacoma.

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Rows of new construction homes in Peaceful streets in the Bonney Lake neighborhood.
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Newly built homes in Bonney Lake go for the more modern aesthetic.
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Big box stores and restaurants on Route 410

Commercial strips are found along State Route 410 in Bonney Lake, including a wide range of big box and grocery stores. Costco, The Home Depot, Walmart, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Target and Lowe’s are all found here. Restaurants include a mix of chains like Chick-fil-A and Denny’s alongside local favorites like Happy Pho Time, Trapper’s Sushi and Sumalee’s Thai Cuisine. For a wider selection, Tacoma’s dining scene is about 30 minutes away.

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Bonney Lake residents can get their groceries done at Fred Meyer.
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Trapper's Sushi has some amazing rolls to try in Bonney Lake.
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Highly rated Sumner-Bonney Lake School District

Students attend schools in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, which receives a B-plus grade from Niche. It’s rated among the top districts in Pierce County and is one of the reasons for Bonney Lakes rise in popularity. “The school district is phenomenal,” says Realtor John Hurlbut of Keller Williams Realty, a longtime resident of neighboring Puyallup.

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Bonney Lake Elementary School Signage at front.
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Older students move onto Bonney Lake High School that serves grades 9-12.
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Getting around Bonney Lake and greater Tacoma

Residents will likely need a car in Bonney Lake. The city has no bus service, and it’s about 15 miles to Tacoma and 37 miles to Downtown Seattle. Traffic heading into both cities is notoriously heavy, so residents may need to plan accordingly. State Route 410 is the major thoroughfare in the city, and Interstate 5 is about 12 miles northwest. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is about 28 miles away. Bonney Lake has emergency room services, but the closest major hospital is about 8 miles west in Puyallup.

Low crime rates

Bonney Lake’s violent and property crime rates are well-below the state and national averages, according to FBI stats. The city’s violent crime rates have fallen slightly over the past decade despite adding thousands of new residents.

Daniel Berti
Written By
Daniel Berti
Perry Cucinotta
Photography Contributed By
Perry Cucinotta
Kristen Wilson
Video By
Kristen Wilson

Neighborhood Map

Bonney Lake by the Numbers

22,915
Population
$568K
Average Housing Value
48
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Bonney Lake, WA

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Mountain Meadow Elementary School
#1 Mountain Meadow Elementary School
A
Niche
10
GreatSchools
Tehaleh Heights Elementary School
#2 Tehaleh Heights Elementary School
A-
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Maple Lawn Elementary School
#3 Maple Lawn Elementary School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Donald Eismann Elementary School
#4 Donald Eismann Elementary School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Bonney Lake Elementary School
#5 Bonney Lake Elementary School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Crestwood Elementary School
#6 Crestwood Elementary School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Dieringer Heights Elementary School
#7 Dieringer Heights Elementary School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Lake Tapps Elementary School
#8 Lake Tapps Elementary School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Liberty Ridge Elementary School
#9 Liberty Ridge Elementary School
B
Niche
8
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

Lakeridge Middle School
#1 Lakeridge Middle School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
North Tapps Middle School
#2 North Tapps Middle School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Sumner Middle School
#3 Sumner Middle School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Glacier Middle School
#4 Glacier Middle School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Mountain View Middle School
#5 Mountain View Middle School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Mt Baker Middle School
#6 Mt Baker Middle School
B
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

Bonney Lake High School
#1 Bonney Lake High School
B
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Sumner High School
#2 Sumner High School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Auburn Riverside High School
#3 Auburn Riverside High School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools

Best Private School

Kelly Lake Montessori
#1 Kelly Lake Montessori

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Cambria Henry
(509) 463-9513
I work hard to set myself apart from other agents. Some of the ways I do this is by not only finding you a home that fits your needs but finding you the home that you love! I also ensure that you do not pay too much for the home.

Once you find a home I run my own competitive market analysis. I do this because 97% of homes listed are priced above market value. I use the market analysis to recommend an offer price for you AND to justify your price in negotiations with the other real estate agent. On average my clients save over $5000 using this method.

Cambria Moore has a background and experience in Construction Management; she is the founder of a recruiting firm in Houston; and, worked several years as a leadership coach for a worldwide personal development company. It is no surprise that in her first year in real estate, Cambria outperformed the average Realtor by over 450%.

The ultimate “multi-tasker,” Cambria has an innate ability to handle many details and keep transactions progressing smoothly. All the while she provides attentive support to clients so they feel well informed and cared for. She is tenacious in her desire to deliver the very best results in all situations.

“I have the passion and the patience to do thorough legwork in order to find a buyer the perfect home, and help a seller market their property to gain optimal exposure and activity. “
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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.