7 Best Neighborhoods in Lacey, Washington

(Updated March 2023)

Are you thinking about moving to Lacey, Washington? Wise choice. Money Magazine thought so much of Lacey, they named it one of the Top 100 Places to Live in 2019. Unbeknownst to many, Lacey actually has quite a large number of established neighborhoods. They vary in size, topography, geography, and median price. When choosing where you want to live in Lacey, these factors will definitely come into play. You may also care about their proximity to parks, lakes, trails, or how close they are to downtown Lacey.

We’ve compiled a short list of what we think are the best neighborhoods. Use this list as a starting off point to choose the right Lacey neighborhood for you.

 

Beachcrest Neighborhood

home at dusk

The Beachcrest Neighborhood is located at the very northern end of Lacey, reaching to the shores of the Nisqually Reach area of Puget Sound. This private community has 286 homes nestled amongst mature fir and cedar trees. Many of the homes are older (dating back to the 1940s) and are one-story ramblers. However, there are some new homes going up in the neighborhood.

People are drawn to it for the amenities it provides including a half-mile private beach, marina, boat ramp, cabanas, playground, and nature trail. The Golf Club at Hawks Prairie is adjacent to the neighborhood and offers two fabulous courses to choose from. Home prices here range from $380,000 to $577,750.

  

McAllister Park Neighborhood

aerial view of home in McAllister Park

McAllister Park may very well be the most elite neighborhood in all of Lacey, WA. We should mention that the neighborhood actually sits outside the Lacey city limits, but residents are connected to Lacey water and sewer. In this neighborhood, which sits about a half-mile east of Long Lake, you’ll find upscale homes with a median home value of $720,000, and home sizes that range from 2,400 sq ft. to over 6,000 sq. ft.

The neighborhood was developed in the early 2000s and has larger lots than most in the area. McAllister Park also has a varied topography, which makes for some fabulous vistas. The neighborhood backs up to its namesake McAllister Community Park, a 60-acre undeveloped park that features trails and a beautiful stand of native oaks.

 

Timberlake Neighborhood

mid-century modern home in Timberlake Neighborhood

The Timberlake neighborhood borders the northwest corner of Long Lake in SE Lacey. Homes here have a median sale price of $412k, and are a mix of newer construction and mid-century.

What makes Timberlake special are its natural attributes. With several affordable homes on the lake, you have an opportunity to live the water life. Other homes in the neighborhood are surrounded by mature Douglas firs creating a beautiful canopy effect.

Just a few blocks north of Timberlake is Woodland Creek Community Park, a 72-acre park with Longs Pond in the center. The park offers a paved walking path that connects with the Woodland Trail. It also features picnic shelters with barbecue grills, restrooms, and play equipment. The Lacey Community Center, Lacey Senior Center, and “White House” recreation center are also located within the park.

 

Cantergrove at Long Lake

home in Cantergrove at Long Lake Neighborhood

Cantergrove at Long Lake is one of the newest neighborhoods in Lacey. It features over 100 newly-constructed homes with sizes ranging from 1,700 to 2,500 sq. ft. It’s located just southeast of Union Mill in the southeast region of the city.

The neighborhood has its own lakeside community park with lake access and dock, as well as a playground, walking/running trails, and an oak tree preserve. Seven Oaks Elementary school is also located here. Home prices start at $449,900.

 

Meridian Campus Neighborhood

home in Meridan Campus Neighborhood

Meridian Campus is a planned community that was created in 1992 by The Weyerhaeuser/Vicwood Partnership. The community is built on 1,150 acres and when complete will have nearly 2,500 homes as well as industrial and office space. Meridian Campus is massive, encompassing 13 different communities with such names as Campus Highlands, Campus Peak, and Campus Prairie. Homes here have a median value of $456,345. Home sizes range from 1500 sq. ft. to as large as 3700 sq. ft.

The area has a number of green spaces including Meridian Neighborhood Park, a 24-acre park that includes a picnic shelter, restrooms, playground, basketball court, and barbecue grills. Also winding through the area is the William Ives Trail, a one and a half-mile walking trail that winds through a nature preserve. Many of the area’s homes back up to the Golf Club at Hawks Prairie’s Woodland Course.

 

Lake Forest Neighborhood

ranch style home in lake forest neighborhood

The Lake Forest Neighborhood is in the southern part of Lacey, just east of Long Lake. The Lake Forest neighborhood association describes the neighborhood as “Endowed with more than 400 hard-to-find middle-income homes built on large lots; 22 acres of natural greenbelt; and a private, 4.5-acre park that leads to popular Long Lake… that’s what makes Lake Forest a truly hidden gem.”

The aforementioned park is known as Hearing Park and offers wooded trails, canoe/kayak launch, a pavilion, playground area, and benches.

Homes here range in value from around $325,000 to $479,000 with sizes going from 1200 sq. ft. to 1600 sq. ft. Evergreen Forest Elementary School is located here.

 

Gateway Neighborhood

home in Gateway II neighborhood

If you’re looking for a new home, the brand-new Gateway Neighborhood could be what you’re after. The development is the creation of homebuilder D.R. Horton and is centrally located 5 minutes north of I-5. It’s also very close to major shopping attractions such as Cabelas, Walmart, and Hawks Prairie Casino amongst many others. A new mixed-use development called Lacey Gateway is also in the works at the corner of Britton Parkway and Marvin Rd.

Plans for the Gateway Neighborhood community include a sports court, climbing rocks, playground, and greenspace. Homes here feature floor plans from 3 to 5 bedrooms and range in size from 1600 sq. ft. to 3200 sq. ft. Current values range from $365,000 to $660,000.

The city of Lacey is the next true hotspot in the south Puget Sound area. If you’re thinking of moving to the area, now would be a great time to purchase a home in one of these terrific neighborhoods. If you need a place to temporarily store your belongings, consider using one of our storage facilities located in Lacey.

About the Author: Derek Hines

About the Author: Derek Hines

Digital Marketing Specialist

Derek is originally from the great state of Wisconsin (go Badgers), but is slowly becoming a Pacific Northwesterner. As part of the Digital Marketing team, he writes extensively on storage, moving and life for West Coast Self-Storage, based in Everett, Washington.