Often considered an extension of Olympia, Lacey is a city in its own right. “It’s not as artsy as Olympia. It’s more downhome and family-friendly,” says Debbi Boyd with Real Estate of the South Sound, a local broker since 2001. “You see more kids fairs and events where you can take the whole family, and we have more neighborhood parks.” Lacey has nearly 6,000 trees on its streets and over 1,200 acres of green space. Additionally, its position on South Puget Sound means that wetlands and lakes are often a short drive away. Of its roughly 55,000 residents, some have been here for years, while others have moved recently from out of state. Service members often live in Lacey too since Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is about 20 miles east.
Cozy, colorful tree lined streets of Lacey WA area.
Don't miss out on delicious drinks at Ebony & Ivory Coffee in downtown Lacey WA.
Enjoy beauty all around you when living in the Indian Summer residential area.
Plenty of bus stops to go around in Lacey WA.
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Exploring Puget Sound and local lakes, Regional Athletic Complex
While not quite as waterfront as Olympia, Lacey has quick access to South Sound and its wetlands. Nisqually Reach, one of many waterways here, is on the city’s north side, and Tolmie State Park is a 105-acre green space on the shoreline. Anderson Island is visible from the park’s rocky beaches and saltwater marshes. Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is on the city’s east side with boardwalk trails and over 275 bird species. Lacey also has two large lakes, Long Lake and Hicks Lake, on its south side, and several other lakes are nearby. Regional Athletic Complex is nearby with five baseball fields, three basketball half-courts and six soccer fields. “A lot of kids play soccer there, even during the winter,” Boyd says. “People come in for tournaments and competitions, too, and it can get pretty busy.”
Stop by Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in the Lacey area.
A common sight to see at Hicks Lake in The Lakes WA.
The Lakes offers waterfront property along all of the lakes.
Long Lake offers stunning views and waterfront property in The Lakes WA.
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Family-oriented events in Lacey
The Lacey Spring Fun Fair, held in May at Saint Martin’s University, has been a tradition since 1988. It includes bounce houses, carnival rides, kids' games, food vendors and other attractions. Thurston County Fairgrounds are on the city’s west side, and they have animal, agricultural and craft exhibits in late July. About 5 miles south of Lacey, the Olympia Regional Airport hosts the Olympic Airshow in June, featuring historic planes from the World War II era.
Schilters Farm offers a fall festival every October of the year in Lacey WA area.
Kids climb haystack pyramid at Schilters Family Farm just outside Nisqually Indian Community.
Don't forget the corn maze while visiting Shilters Family Farm near Nisqually Indian Community.
Enjoy the outdoor area of Shilters Farm Harvest Festival in Lacey WA area.
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High grades for North Thurston Public Schools
North Thurston Public School District serves this area and gets a B-plus from Niche. It’s the most diverse district in Thurston County, ahead of six others. Aspire Performing Arts Academy, rated an A-minus, is a lottery school for grades six through eight, and extracurriculars range from chess to choir. Saint Martin’s University is a private institution in central Lacey, established in 1895.
Salish Middle School serves the Edgewater students in the Lacey area of Washington.
North Thurston High School has an enrollment of 1,440 students.
Olympic View Elementary School has a 23:1 student-teacher ratio.
Chinook Middle School has a total enrollment of 934 students.
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Prices similar to Olympia and Tacoma, new development
At $500,000, Lacey’s median sale price is roughly the same as neighboring Olympia and Tacoma. Still, it’s about $350,000 cheaper than Seattle. One- and two-story homes cover most of the area, priced similarly to the median. However, manufactured homes toward Central Lacey can go for $50,000, while waterfront estates in The Lakes neighborhood can reach $2 million. “You know you’re in Olympia because of the historic buildings. When you get to Lacey, everything’s newer, and you can have developments anywhere from 25 to 2,500 homes,” Boyd says. Built in the 2000s and onward, new builds concentrate on the city’s northern and southern sides. They’re typically in Hawks Prairie, Horizons and other neighborhoods.
Spacious home with grand façades, & elegant landscaping in the Lacey area.
Colorful homes line the streets of Lacey WA area.
Stunning craftsmen style brick home with fall colors in the Lacey WA area.
Many of the beach front properties offer a dock for the boat along Long Lake in Lacey area.
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Shopping and dining in South Sound Center, Producer District
Tourists often check out Downtown Olympia’s murals and galleries, but Lacey has commercial centers of its own. On the city’s west side, South Sound Center has big box stores, and locally owned restaurants are nearby along Pacific Avenue. The Producer’s District, on the city’s north side, holds industrial warehouses and distribution centers, but it also has a few breweries and wineries. Sports complexes are here too, such as Archery World and Cirque Climbing. Just south of this area, Martin Way is another commercial corridor with grocers and additional restaurants.
Looking for a spot to get your homework done? Starbucks has you covered in the Lacey area.
Multiple shops to peruse on Sleater Kinney in Lacey WA.
Don't forget the candy deals at Target in Lacey WA.
You can get most things at Target in Lacey WA.
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Rain and clouds, crime levels in Lacey
Lacey’s climate is typical of the Pacific Northwest. It gets about 50 inches of annual rain, 20 inches more than the national average, and has about 230 cloudy days per year. The rainiest, cloudiest months are November to January, but summers are sunny and clear. Wildfire smoke can cover the region during this time, carried in from the Cascade Mountains.
In 2023, Lacey had a monthly average of 66 violent offenses per 100,000 people. That’s much less than state and national rates. Its monthly average for property crimes was 245 per 100,000 people, aligning with the state rate but much higher than the national one.
Salish Middle School serves the Edgewater students in the Lacey area of Washington.
The picturesque downtown Olympia Heritage Park is the place to get your walk in.
Gateway Park in Edgewater area offers amazing views and space to play.
Horizon Pointe residents can catch beautiful sunsets just minutes away at the boat harbor.
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Commuting to Olympia, JBLM via Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is Lacey’s major thoroughfare, and it can back up with traffic during rush hour. It goes about 5 miles west to Downtown Olympia and about 20 miles east to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Tumwater and Tacoma are also along this freeway, but Intercity Transit operates several bus routes to these neighboring areas. Lacey also has the Amtrak Cascades rail that goes roughly 60 miles to Seattle and 120 miles to Portland.
Getting around on bike is the go to in The Lakes area of Lacey WA.
The Intercity transit is there to help in Lacey WA.
The Intercity Transit is a free bus system for the community of Horizon Pointe and beyond.
Tanglewilde residents can utilize the Centennial Station for Amtrak and local bus rides.
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