About 9 miles south of Tacoma, Summit is a rural area with 8,000 people and farmland that stretches over the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, giving homes ample acreage for raising cattle and horses. "Summit has longtime residents looking for more space outside of the big city," says Brian Solinsky, an area local and managing broker at Keller Williams Realty. This quiet landscape may feel removed from urban conveniences, but it's surrounded by nearby shopping plazas. Many residents commute to Tacoma for jobs in healthcare and education, while some work at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, 12 miles southwest.
Summit View
Summit View
The High Point Equestrian Center offers many horse services such as boarding and lessons.
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Spacious and eclectic properties with potential
Summit's median home price is $595,000, higher than the national media and Tacoma's $482,000. According to Solinsky, Summit has more space than Tacoma, where neighborhoods are often densely packed. "It has diverse homes with new construction," Solinsky says, "and farm-type properties with more acreage."Minimal traditional and ranch-style homes from the 1940s through 1970s are common throughout Summit, while there are some 21st-century new traditional homes in subdivisions like Three Cedars. Summit Puyallup has acre lots with room for gardens and horses, while the hilltop Summit View has mostly farmhouses and undeveloped land. Crime statistics specific to Summit are not readily available.
Summit View
Many homes in Summit Puyallup utilize their large lots to build expansive garage space.
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The South Hill Mall is just minutes from Summit
Summit Country Center is home to Summit's dining scene, featuring American pubs and Vietnamese and Thai places. Canyon Road, a major local thoroughfare, is lined with coffee shops, pharmacies and supermarkets. About 3 miles east, the South Hill Mall has over 120 retailers, as well as a bowling alley, arcade and Regal movie theater. Near the mall, Meridian, a major roadway also known as Washington Route 161, is lined with shopping centers, national chains and big-box stores.
Near Summit Puyallup is a retail core with lots of shops such as O'Reilly Auto Parts.
Groceries such as fresh produce are easy to find at the Albertsons near Summit Puyallup.
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B-minus rated Franklin Pierce schools
The Franklin Pierce School District is rated B-minus by Niche, and serves 7,000 students across eight elementary, two middle and three high schools. Elementary and middle schools offer a Spanish dual language program, and high schools provide college credit opportunities in the Running Start program.
The front entrance to Midland Elementary School.
The front entrance to Morris Ford Middle School.
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The Orangegate trail and turf fields at Heritage Park
Orangegate Park has a roughly 2-mile loop trail that winds through a forest and is popular with horse and dog owners, while Dawson Playfield has a baseball diamond and basketball courts. The 40-acre South Hill Community Park includes a playground and the paved Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail, which connects to Heritage Park and its turf fields for soccer and softball. About 4 miles east, Bradley Lake Park is a 60-acre reserve with paved hiking trails and a fishing lake.
Pipeline Road East near Orangegate Park in Summit Puyallup has a really striking view.
Orangegate Park in Summit Puyallup has quite a few trails for folks to walk along.
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Pierce Transit and various routes along 512
Summit sits right on Washington Route 512, which leads about 6 miles west to Interstate 5; heading north on I-5, it's about 12 miles to downtown Tacoma and 37 miles to downtown Seattle. Pierce Transit, the local bus system, makes stops in Summit along 112th Street. St. Clare Hospital, about 9 miles west, is the closest emergency room and one of the area’s largest employers. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is about 25 miles away.
Rainfall and environmental risks
Like much of the Pacific Northwest, Summit has a temperate climate and wet winters that bring frequent rainfall. Traffic noise may affect properties near WA-Route 512. Most of Pierce County, including Summit, may experience earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis caused by movement along the Tacoma Fault.
Written By
Jackson Hardy
Photography Contributed By
Landon Gauthier
Video By
Lucas Dyke
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jennifer Johnson,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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New home community minutes from Fruitland Elementary & downtown Puyallup. Designer selected finishes & lighting in popular floorplan by local builder, JK Monarch. Main level flex room w/adjacent 3⁄4 bath. Great room has linear electric FP and opens to outdoor covered living w/ private back yard. Includes A/C, Whirlpool SS appliances—including W/D, wrought iron rails, EV prewire & fully
New Construction home in Puyallup by JK Monarch! Three Cedars is minutes from HWY 512, Good Sam hospital and all Puyallup/S. Hill has to offer. Featuring a spacious kitchen with SS appls, oversized island and soft-close cabinets, the main level also features an office w/ adjacent 3/4 bath. Primary suite is a true retreat w/ double door entry, large walk-in closet & spa inspired ensuite offering
Move-in Ready! New home in prime location by local builder, JK Monarch. Designer selected features in popular floor plan has main level den w/adjacent 3⁄4 bath. Great room w/tile surround fp, slider to outdoor covered living. Spacious kitchen w/SS appliances, oversized island, soft-close cabinets, quartz countertops & walk-in pantry. Upstairs primary suite offers large walk-in closet &
Welcome to your dream home in one of Puyallup's most coveted neighborhoods, steps from DeCoursey Park! This 2,092 sq ft gated retreat sits on nearly half an acre, boasting 3 bedrooms and 2.75 baths. Revel in brand-new flooring throughout and a new roof installed in 2025, ensuring style and durability. The open-concept design features a convenient downstairs kitchenette, ideal for guests. Unwind
Come experience highly sought after 55+ community of Harvest Gate. This 2 bedroom & den floorplan is a favorite of many. Huge living room with gas log fireplace, formal dining along with large dining area in the gourmet island kitchen. The primary suite is spacious with a sitting area, big walk-in closet and bright bathroom. Guest bedroom is quite large too. Enjoy the big covered patio and
Hurry to this lovely 3 bedroom Harvest Gate home. Huge open living and dining room combination with a freestanding gas log stove! Large bright kitchen with all appliances, lots of cabinets and a dining nook too. Primary bedroom features a huge closet and a slider out to the patio and backyard. Two other spacious bedrooms, laundry room and big 2 car garage with pull down ladder to attic storage.
This could be your new home! Apply now!Look no further for great apartment home living because you've found it at Canyon Ridge! Our beautiful community is located in scenic Tacoma, Washington. Enjoy the convenience of being close to everything with easy access to shopping, dining, schools, and entertainment. If convenience and location are important factors in your lifestyle, you've come
Discover the perfect pairing of luxury living and affordability at The Summit Apartments in Tacoma, Washington. Our community offers a range of customized 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartment homes designed to fit your every need. Whether you desire large closets and additional storage or a relaxing spot by the pool to soak up the sunshine, The Summit has it all at the most competitive prices in the
You'll find plenty of space in Summit Puyallup, especially if you love horses. It's an area known for large lots of land, and residents use that space for their equine companions to trot around. There are plenty of places in Summit Puyallup that are more traditional neighborhoods, too, so there is something for everyone looking for some room to stretch out their elbows.<br><br>Homes in Summit Puyallup start at around $550,000 and can reach up to nearly $1.5 million. Properties in this area tend to have a rustic vibe, and many cross between craftsman and ranch homes and use exposed wood on the facades. You'll also be able to find plenty of land on the lots in the area; half an acre is a standard size for properties in this area. The streets run in long, straight lines gridded on the rural landscape. You'll find wooden fence posts marking property lines or trees and shrubs delineating one yard from another, creating a sense of space and privacy.<br><br>Students in the area are part of the Franklin Pierce School District. Rated in the top 10 school districts in Pierce County, it has a B-plus rating on Niche and is known for highly rated college prep programs. The area's youngest learners begin their academic journey at Midland Elementary School with a B-minus rating on Niche. It's mainly known for compassionate teachers. In September 2023, one teacher at the school won a service learning award for his curriculum focused on critical life skills and knowledge. Students continue at C-plus-rated Morris Ford Middle School. Students have fun after-school activities to choose from at the school, like yearbook, chess and outdoor clubs. Learners wrap up their secondary academic journeys at Franklin Pierce High School with a B rating on Niche. The school is known for its unique programs, like the sports medicine club, which competed in a state sports medicine competition in May 2022, which tested the students on anatomy exercise science and pitted them against one another in competitions like speed ankle taping.<br><br>There's no competition when it comes to the outdoors in Summit Puyallup; locals love Orangegate Park. This quiet 160-acre forest is closed to motorized vehicles but wide open for equestrians, joggers and dog walkers. It's a great area to spend hours hiking through and getting lost (but not literally) in the environment. <br><br>Located in a sweet spot between Tacoma and Seattle, this area has easy access to I-5 or Route 512, called the 5-12 by locals. Most people drive in the area, so walkability is a small part of transit but a big part of recreation in areas like Orangegate Park. While you may be tempted to ride your horse to the grocery store, you'll want to stick to the car for getting around.<br><br>Most locals eat and shop at a cluster of shops off the 5-12. Safeway or Albertsons, a local chain, are popular places to load up on groceries for the week. For a bite to eat, head to San Blas Mexican Restaurant in the same shopping area as the grocery stores. With a rustic interior defined by smooth archways in-between dining areas and hues of blue, green and beige, it's a fun place to grab a meal after work.<br><br>For a resident looking to join a community that offers proximity to major roadways and plenty of space on its lots, Summit Puyallup is an option worth considering.
Property Mix - Square Feet
Summit Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,837
Median Age
43
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
22.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$99,625
Above the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$114,905
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.8%
College Graduates
22.6%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8.3%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
61%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
33°F
Average Summer High Temperature
75°F
Annual Snowfall
7''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®®
27/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®®
14/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the 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.
