Fife

A suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of Tacoma, East Fife is a hidden gem for those seeking community and quiet. "Fife is unique since it's the last access point of King County. It's a desirable place for those looking to buy more affordable homes but still have access to Seattle," says Realtor Danny Alitzer with Mosaic Realty who has been selling homes in the area for over a decade. Outdoor recreation is an integral part of life in East Fife. Locals regularly visit the Interurban South Trailhead and Hylebos Wildlife Trail for hiking, walking, biking, or to simply take in the scenic mountain views. “The city has many parks and trails for families to enjoy,” says Kelsey Geddes, the City of Fife Communications and Marketing Manager. Residents will find everything they may need in East Fife with budget-friendly homes, gorgeous neighborhood parks and a central location. Neighborhood parks are a local favorite here, such as Brookville Gardens. Acres of beautiful rolling green hills encompass this park, with the rippling Wapato Creek meandering throughout. Residents can enjoy scenic views of Mount Rainier as they walk around paved trails. Dacca Park is where youth sports are played, and is home to the annual Fife Harvest Festival, offering crafts, food, vendors, and live music. The area hosts other community events like an Easter festival and a tree-lighting festival, according to Geddes. Dacca Park is also home to the Fife History Museum, where people can see exhibits, check out the historic train, and attend the Fife Community Car Show. North Shore Golf Course is a public 18-hole course where golfers of every level can play. While residents can grab most of their daily necessities across the I-5 along the Pacific Highway, there's also a modest commercial district on 20th Street. People can attend local book sales at the Fife Public Library, get some laps in at Fife Aquatic Center, or grab lunch at Emish Market. This Eastern European grocery has specialty food items and a deli counter. On 20th Street, residents will also find the beloved Warthog Barbeque Pit, a casual favorite for ribs, brisket and all the Southern classics. Off Interstate-5, Tatoosh Grill at Emerald Queen Casino offers fine dining and a fun time on the weekends. Downtown Tacoma is home to many bars and clubs that sit along Pacific Avenue including The Forum, Meconi's Tacoma Pub and Keys on Main, a lively piano bar. Homes in East Fife sell after 30 days on the market, compared to the national average of 42 days. Residents must stay aware that the area has a severe risk of flooding due to its positioning and proximity to Commencement Bay. Cottages, ramblers, eclectic midcentury and traditional homes can all be located around East Fife, ranging from $400,000 to $580,000. Homebuyers can also find condos and duplexes offering various buying options to fit their budget, ranging from $300,000 to $430,000. Compared to the neighboring county’s overall median sale price of $600,000, living in East Fife means people can buy more while living in a central location. "Fife has a fantastic school system," says Alitzer. "The local government has invested a lot of resources into the town's education." Public schools include Hedden Elementary School, which has a B from Niche. Kids can advance to B-minus-rated Columbia Junior High School, where students can flex their math skills by joining the knowledge bowl. Just next door, Fife High School has engaging athletic programs and receives a B-plus from Niche. Residents can reach work by car, bus or bike. The area isn’t very walkable, but it’s still a bike-friendly neighborhood. Frequent flyers visit Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, which is just 20 miles away. Commuters can reach Tacoma by using the public bus service offered by Pierce Transit, while drivers can hop on Interstate 5 to reach work. “The area’s proximity to I-5 makes an easy commute to Seattle,” says Alitzer. The top three employers in Fife include the Amazon Warehouse, the American Fast Freight trucking company and the Brown & Haley Fife Warehouse.

People who are just passing through West Fife might miss that there are houses in the neighborhood. “The character definitely changes as you go through the area,” says Colleen Dutmers, a broker with Keller Williams who has worked in the area for over 20 years. “Driving on I-5, it’s more industrial and you’ve got lots of semis driving through the area.” But behind the warehouses and truck stops, a small number of homes cluster together along a few neighborhood streets. Whether it’s the lower prices than many nearby areas or the highway that passes through the neighborhood, West Fife serves as more than just an industrial hub for those who live there. Given its commercial character, West Fife residents may drive through a business park or past warehouses to their homes, many of which were built between the 1940s and 1950s. The scattered houses don’t conform to a unified aesthetic, but ranches and smaller cottages generally dominate the neighborhood. Adjacent to the Puyallup River, the southern tip of West Fife holds a development of contemporary Craftsman single-family homes and townhouses, built in the last 20 years. Those sell around $400,000, while the older builds in the neighborhood generally go from $300,000 to $600,000. “There are some pretty nice homes there, and definitely more affordable compared to surrounding areas,” Dutmers says. The Pierce Transit System provides bus stops throughout West Fife, making it easier for residents to reach downtown Tacoma, and buses run from downtown Tacoma to Seattle as well. However, it’s easiest to get around from the neighborhood by car, as the I-5 cutting through the neighborhood leads directly to Tacoma in the west while the opposite direction heads towards Seattle. The 30-mile drive north to Seattle goes right by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, one of the busiest airports on the West Coast. The warehouses of West Fife make it a logical place for wholesale retailers and outlet stores, and plenty of car dealerships line up on either side of Interstate 5, which extends east to west down the middle of the neighborhood. Fast food chains such as Jack in the Box and travel stops cluster together, as many truckers coming from the Port of Tacoma pass through West Fife to begin their journeys. Amid all this, some local mainstays have stuck around such as Poodle Dog Restaurant, a retro diner that has served up breakfast favorites for over 90 years. Meanwhile, residents head to Emish Market for groceries, just about a mile east of the neighborhood. West Fife’s industrial feel means the area lacks many green spaces for residents to enjoy, but there are a few parks hidden throughout the neighborhood, the biggest of which is Dacca Park. Residents play softball or baseball on the fields, or can check out the Fife History Museum located on the park’s grounds. On the north side of the neighborhood, the Hylebos Wildlife Trail follows its namesake creek. Walkers and joggers also enjoy following the Puyallup River on the Levee Trail. Kids in West Fife attend schools in the Fife School District, starting with Discovery Primary School. The kindergarten through first-grade school was graded an A-minus by Niche. Students then move on to Hedden Elementary School for second grade until fifth and Surprise Lake Middle School for sixth and seventh, each given a B. The B-rated Columbia Junior High School is next for eighth and ninth grade before students finish up at Fife High School. The high school, which received a B-plus grade, has clubs such as Automotive Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and Pep Band. The city of Fife puts on plenty of events for its residents. While many of these are in East Fife, Fife’s yearly car show takes place in West Fife at the Fife History Museum. Held each June, the show includes local vendors and awards for the best cars. Other events include holiday celebrations and Movies in the Park each summer. Meanwhile, locals and out-of-towners alike visit Emerald Queen Casino in the neighborhood for entertainment, including a concert series. Like much of the broader Seattle area, the homelessness crisis has impacted West Fife. The city of Fife has prioritized working to clear encampments and has started a job and temporary housing program for unhoused people in the city.