$683,190Average Value$454Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
Longbranch offers solitude, scenery and a close-knit feel
At the end of the rainbow, you’ll find a pot of gold. At the end of Key Peninsula, you’ll find Longbranch and its golden shores. Longbranch rests just west of Tacoma, across a network of inlets, passages and bays flowing from Puget Sound against an eternity of painted-on sunrises and waterfront serenity. “I think the solitude is one of the reasons people come here,” says Dave Walker, a Realtor with eXp Realty who has been selling homes out this way for nearly three decades. “It’s kind of a sleepy community out here. Just kind of a quiet place on the peninsula, where you know your neighbors because you have to because you rely on each other.”
The community keeps it simple – a grocery store, a church, a marina with boat fuel. Life is situated around the water as it has been back to the glory days when the waterways transported harvested timber out. “The main draw for the whole area is the water. You’re surrounded by it,” Walker says. Nearness to the waterfront may give clues to when your home was built. “There are a lot of small and medium-sized homes on the water because those houses are a little bit older.
Main street going into Longbranch with water views.
Longbranch sits quietly along the trees.
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Residents enjoy privacy and natural beauty
Fewer than 5,000 residents means there’s enough land to allow folks breathing room. You’re as likely to drive stretches of isolated roads to reach your neighbor as you are to see them across the street. “You have some gated communities. There are some waterfront communities out at the end of the point. You may get 15 houses built down a gravel road that’s not even paved,” Walker says. This is one of those places where a home’s view matters nearly as much as its build. Newer homes tend toward traditional two-stories and ramblers set on slabs ranging in size from around 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. The better your view, the more you'll spend. “If you have a view of the water, you’ll pay a premium,” Walker says. The median sale price for a home here is around $500,000. “$450,000 to $550,000 is kind of our entry-level. You don't find many down in the $300,000s anymore,” Walker explains.
A farm-style home sits on a hill in the town of Longbranch.
A row of homes along the coast of Longbranch.
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The Peninsula School District earns high remarks on Niche
Longbranch students attend schools in the Peninsula School District, which Niche rates A-minus. They enroll in Evergreen Elementary School, Key Peninsula Middle School and Peninsula High School. Niche rates each school B-plus and ranks the high school among the best in Washington. Peninsula High offers advanced placement-level courses in calculus, chemistry, human geography, physics, psychology, statistics, U.S. history and world history.
Peninsula High School welcomes students, faculty, and staff.
Front area of Key Peninsula Middle School.
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State parks offer shoreline access and water activities
When it comes to parks and recreational spaces, it doesn’t get much better than in Longbranch. Joemma Beach State Park on the peninsula’s southwestern bank. It’s a 122-acre park with 3,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and spaces for picnics and camping, plus a boatload of water activities and sports, including fishing, waterskiing and crabbing. For an equally pleasant outdoor experience, Penrose Point State Park is on the peninsula’s opposite shore and offers similar options on more than 2 miles of saltwater shoreline. There are 2.5 miles of hiking, biking and nature trails and plenty of opportunities for swimming, scuba diving, fishing and birdwatching.
Towering evergreens all over Joemma Beach State Park.
A common sight to see while meandering the park.
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Residents drive to Gig Harbor and Tacoma for food and retail
While wide open spaces are right there at your fingertips, dining and shopping are a whole different story. Though you’ll find a local store north in Home, the community above Longbranch, or a pub here or there, the bulk of food spots and retail and grocery shopping are about 20 miles or so away in Gig Harbor. That’s about a 35-minute trip to your familiar chain restaurants like Applebee’s or to regional chains like Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar. Given the distance, it’s probably a good idea to fit in your shopping at Costco or Metropolitan Market maybe. You’ll see your favorite retail shops along the way, even an Imax movie theater. From Gig Harbor, you’re just across the bridge from Tacoma, which is where residents travel to most events and upgrade their entertainment and shopping experiences. Either way, you’re traveling back home up Route 16, across Route 2, then south on the Key Peninsula Highway, the main thoroughfare taking you down into the peninsula. Driving is your only option to reach this scenic haven.
Metropolitan Market is a trek from Longbranch but offers quality food choices when needed.
Stop by the cafe at Metropolitan Market when you need a good pick me up!
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Written By
Jonathan Clarke
Photography Contributed By
William King
Video By
Dan Mack
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Paige Schulte,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Longbranch, WA sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Longbranch, WA over the last 12 months is $613,975, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Wake up to Mount Rainier and Puget Sound every single day. This gated Long Branch waterfront sanctuary sits steps from the beach with direct beach access, community boat launch, and 7 covered bays provide enough covered parking for all your toys. This premier one owner custom medium bank home provides classic character — soaring cathedral ceilings, hexagon window walls, original hardwoods, and a
Investor alert! Rare log home opportunity on nearly 5 private acres in a quiet Key Peninsula setting. This custom-built 3-bedroom, 3-bath cabin offers the kind of character, space & setting that is hard to find, with soaring ceilings, generous natural light & oversized bedrooms upstairs. The main level features an open living area & spacious eat-in kitchen with breakfast bar, abundant counter
For sale: 5.5 acres of prime farmland with a solid barn featuring completed slab and framing, ready for your finishing touches. This property is perfect for building your dream barndominium or embracing off-grid living. The pasture land is fenced—with fencing already in place and just needing adjustment for the current lot size—plus the cross fencing is ready to be completed. Previously a working
2.4 acres for under $130K — your blank canvas in Lakebay awaits. Towering maples and gentle tree canopy set the scene for this peaceful, privately-maintained parcel with power already on site. No prior development means no cleanup, no compromise, just a clean slate for your dream home, weekend retreat, or future investment. Minutes from Penrose State Park and just a 15-minute drive to town for
Priced to Sell parcel for sale in a semi-developed plot of single-family homes. Secluded and ready for you to plan your dream home in rural Pierce County on the peninsula. Embrace the peace and serenity of Pacific Northwest living with this fantastic, well-priced parcel located near the highly sought-after Palmer Lake community! Nestled in a quiet, semi-developed neighborhood of single-family
Rare opportunity to own a waterfront property in the heart of Lakebay with stunning views of Delano Bay, Carr Inlet, Puget Sound and majestic Mt Rainier. Follow the steps leading to your own beach with 8x16 dock, waterfront patio and firepit area. There are 4 lots total (1.03 acres), the 2 waterfront lots feature the home and approximately 120 feet of waterfront. Built in 1974, this well built
An extraordinary legacy estate in Longbranch, near Gig Harbor, offering a rare blend of privacy, tranquility, and waterfront living with true farm and equestrian potential. Spanning 11.54 secluded acres with over 800 feet of beachfront and owned tidelands on Case Inlet, this exceptional property showcases panoramic Puget Sound views stretching from Johnson Point to the Olympic Mountains, visible
Bring your dreams and favorite builder! Beautiful Olympic Mountain views from this pristine gently rolling 2.5 acre parcel ready for your custom home located on scenic Key Peninsula! Situated in wonderful Herron Heights neighborhood on a privately maintained road with power and water available at the site, this treed lot offers privacy but is only minutes to highway 302 and shopping. Located
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Discover this charming home in Palmer Lake community of Lakebay, nestled on the beautiful Key Peninsula! Home boasts modern kitchen with butcher-block countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a central island with a breakfast bar. Open concept living on the main floor that combines the living room, dining room and kitchen which is ideal for entertaining. Back porch and fenced backyard that is
Discover affordable, energy-efficient living in this 2025 Energy Star Certified home set within a peaceful, well-kept community. This modern double-wide features an open layout with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and a spacious primary suite complete with a walk-in closet and private bath. A flexible bonus room easily functions as a den, office, or 4th bedroom—perfect for remote work, guests, or
Striking Pacific Northwest architecture meets an unmatched waterfront setting in this thoughtfully designed home on 103 feet of highly usable shoreline. Exposed beams, repeating square design details, and oversized windows draw the eye outward to the water at every turn - a home that feels as intentional as it is welcoming. The primary bedroom is conveniently located on the main floor. Whether
Quietness, still waters, neighbors you can count on. Welcome to Lakebay. “You’re far enough away from the big city where the big city doesn’t influence you. You’re close enough that if you need services, you can get to them,” says Dave Walker, a Realtor with eXp Realty who has been selling around here and developing plats of land for nearly three decades. “Just the clarity of the water in Puget Sound is pretty amazing.” From Lakebay’s shores, you watch the water flow gently into the bay as it has for generations. At one time waterways were the most efficient way to move timber in and out of here. <br><br>Today, narrow roadways slope downward toward the water’s edge and up back up to flatter land lined with Cape Cods, modern farmhouses, some contemporaries and even transitional housing shrouded by towering trees.<br><br>Whether you’re value shopping or have greater spending flexibility, Lakebay offers pricing options. “What they can get for $600,000 in town, they can get out here for $350,000. There’s probably a 30 percent difference,” Walker shares. The median home price in Lakebay is $400,000. But with homes available from as low as $200,000 to as high as $1 million or more, homebuyers have a wide range of prices to select from. Walker explains, “There are quite a few entry-level homes in the middle $300,000s and up. You’ll find houses on the waterfront for $1 million.”<br><br>Peninsula School District, which Niche rates A-minus, serves Lakebay. Students attend Evergreen Elementary School, Key Peninsula Middle School and Peninsula High School, all of which Niche rates B-plus. Niche ranks the high school among the best in Washington. Beyond the school’s academic mission, compassionate Peninsula High students collected 1,000 teddy bears to send to children in war-torn Ukraine.<br><br>Meanwhile at home, it’s all about the great outdoors and folks spending recreational time at Penrose Point State Park on Mayo Cove. Named for Stephen Penrose, president of Whitman College at the turn of the 20th century, the park features more than 2 miles of saltwater shoreline plus 2.5 miles of hiking, biking and nature trails. Parkgoers can swim, boat, scuba dive, fish, water ski, birdwatch and more. “The park is the big draw. And the Puget Sound is a boating mecca,” Walker says.<br><br>As nice as having a boat is, it’s a car that you’ll need to grab food, and you’ll need to plan because nothing is close. Expect to spend time on the highway driving north into the next closest town for a sit-down meal at a place like 2 Margaritas, one of a handful of eateries and pubs. More likely, you’ll head 30 minutes away to Gig Harbor for a wider variety of menu options.<br><br>You’ll probably need to pack a lunch if any kind of serious shopping is in your sights. Gig Harbor, about 30 minutes away, is your closest option for grocery and retail options at places like Fred Meyer and Metropolitan Market. It’s also a good idea to make a list of what you’ve come for because there’s no such thing as heading back out for what you forgot to get. “Once you get home, it’s not like you’re going to say I forgot something and just find it up the road,” Walker admonishes.<br><br>That distance from so much of the mainstream makes it unlikely that Lakebay would host many major events or festivals. To be sure, Bluegrass music is popular out this way, and you’ll catch musical acts stopping by. More likely events include Key Peninsula celebrations like the Fourth of July Parade. For most of your bigger events, once more, plan to spend road time traveling to Gig Harbor. <br><br>Key Peninsula Highway is the primary and practically singular way into and out of town. So, prepare to become very familiar with the road as you’re navigating your trips to festivals and the like, especially as there’s no real mass transit system to speak of around here. If driving’s not your favorite activity, staying in will have to do. And for folks here, that’s just fine.
Property Mix - Square Feet
Longbranch Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
4,763
Median Age
47
Population under 18
21.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
26.1%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$83,189
On par with the national average
$79,597
Average Household Income
$97,369
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.9%
College Graduates
24.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8%
% Population in Labor Force
49.1%
Below the national average
64.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
36°F
Average Summer High Temperature
76°F
Annual Snowfall
4''
Area Factors
Somewhat bikeable
Bikeability®
20/ 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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.
