Washington
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
📍 Tacoma, Washington
Home to the 62nd Airlift Wing and the 446th Airlift Wing, JBLM is a major West Coast airlift hub with C-17 Globemaster III operations near Tacoma.
BAH Rates
MHA: WA020 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,235/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,685/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,980/mo
O-3 with Dependents$3,384/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,748/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Lewis-McChord Communities (managed by Lincoln Military Housing) — wide range of homes from historic Craftsman bungalows to modern townhomes and new-construction single-family houses; wait lists vary by rank and neighborhood
- Off-base (Pierce County): Median home prices in the $450K-$550K range in Tacoma/Lakewood; BAH covers most rentals but the market is competitive
- BAH: Adjusted for high-cost Puget Sound region; covers comfortable rentals in Lakewood, Spanaway, and Puyallup; Tacoma and Olympia rentals are tighter
- Top pick: DuPont — small town 5 min from the DuPont gate, excellent schools, historic village feel, heavily military, quiet and family-friendly
- Note: Washington has no state income tax — significant financial advantage; but property and sales taxes are high
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- DuPont — Top choice for JBLM families, 5 min from the DuPont gate, highly rated Steilacoom School District, safe, walkable, heavily military community, limited inventory so rentals go fast
- Lacey — 15-20 min south, North Thurston School District is solid, more affordable than DuPont, good shopping (Hawks Prairie), growing community
- Puyallup/South Hill — 20-25 min east, excellent schools, more suburban feel, great shopping at South Hill Mall, longer but consistent commute via SR 512
- Steilacoom — Charming historic waterfront town 10-15 min from base, small-town feel with ferry access to Anderson Island, top-rated small school district
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Clarkmoor Elementary⭐ 4/10
On JBLM, military community
Hillside Elementary⭐ 5/10
Near McChord Field
Chambers Elementary⭐ 7/10
Steilacoom district, strong
🏫 Middle Schools
Lochburn Middle School⭐ 4/10
Closest to base
Pioneer Middle School⭐ 6/10
Steilacoom, consistent
Steilacoom High (middle grades)⭐ 6/10
Small district
🏫 High Schools
Lakes High School⭐ 5/10
Close to JBLM, diverse
Steilacoom High School⭐ 6/10
Smaller school, strong community
Curtis Senior High⭐ 7/10
University Place, IB program
Gates & Commute
- DuPont Gate (I-5 Exit 119) — Busiest gate for family housing and DuPont/Steilacoom commuters, 10-20 min peak waits (6:00-8:00 AM), 24/7 operations
- Main Gate (I-5 Exit 122, Berkeley St) — Primary commercial/gateway entry, heavier truck traffic, 10-15 min peak waits, 24/7
- East Gate (SR 512) — Serves Puyallup/South Hill commuters, 5-10 min waits, limited weekend hours
- Note: I-5 through JBLM is a notorious traffic bottleneck regionally — the base is physically between Tacoma and Olympia; JBLM-bound traffic at rush hour can add 15-30 min to commutes
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Dominant provider across Pierce County, plans up to 1.2 Gbps in most neighborhoods, data caps apply (1.2TB standard)
- CenturyLink (Lumen) — Fiber expanding in Tacoma and Lacey, speeds up to 940 Mbps symmetrical where fiber is available; older DSL areas are much slower
- Rainier Connect — Local provider serving parts of Tacoma and Pierce County with fiber; smaller but good customer service reputation
- T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home Internet — Growing coverage in the Puget Sound region; T-Mobile is headquartered in Bellevue and their network is strong regionally
- Top pick: Xfinity cable for availability; CenturyLink Fiber where built out (speed and no data caps)
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary (McChord side); PX and commissary (Lewis side) — robust shopping with U.S. product lines, electronics, and outdoor gear
- Tacoma Mall (15 min) — Major regional mall with Macy's, Nordstrom Rack, H&M, and a large food court
- South Hill Mall (Puyallup, 20 min) — Convenient for Puyallup/South Hill residents; Target, Kohl's, and a growing dining scene
- Groceries: Commissary for American goods; off-base Fred Meyer, Safeway, Costco, and WinCo for regional and bulk shopping; the Olympia Farmers Market (25 min) is one of the best in the state
- Dining: Pacific Northwest cuisine — sustainable seafood, craft breweries everywhere; must-try: Duke's Chowder House on Ruston Way for award-winning clam chowder with Rainier views
Gyms & Recreation
- McChord Fitness Center — Well-equipped with weights, cardio, indoor track, basketball courts, and group fitness; also JBLM Soldiers Field House with aquatic center
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Ski and snowboard trips to Crystal Mountain, kayaking Puget Sound, whale watching in the San Juan Islands, and backpacking in Olympic and Rainier National Parks
- On-base: Multiple gyms across the joint base, bowling alley, movie theater, golf course (Eagles Pride — 27 holes), swimming pools, sports fields, and adventure programs
- Mount Rainier National Park (1.5 hrs) — Iconic 14,411-ft volcano; hiking, wildflower meadows (Paradise), and epic summit climbs; visible from base on clear days
- Puget Sound: Kayaking, sailing, and ferry rides through the San Juan Islands; whale watching for orcas in summer months
- Day/weekend trips: Seattle (1 hr) for Pike Place Market and Space Needle; Portland OR (2 hrs); Vancouver BC (3 hrs) for international weekend getaways
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC, and DODEA district office — major employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS positions across JBLM commands (62nd AW, I Corps, 7th ID)
- Defense contractors: Boeing (massive presence regionally), Leidos, General Dynamics, and SAIC support JBLM and Pacific Northwest missions
- Washington economy: Tech (Amazon, Microsoft, Google in Seattle), aerospace (Boeing), healthcare (MultiCare, CHI Franciscan), and state government (Olympia is 25 min south)
- Healthcare: Madigan Army Medical Center (on-base) and MultiCare Tacoma General are the region's largest healthcare employers
- Remote work: Washington is a top remote-work state; no state income tax, excellent internet, and PST is only 3 hours behind EST
- Employment Readiness: JBLM's Employment Readiness Program runs monthly job fairs, federal resume workshops, and career counseling for military spouses
Local Attractions
- Mount Rainier National Park (1.5 hrs) — The defining landmark of the Pacific Northwest; wildflower meadows at Paradise, hiking to glaciers, and the iconic mountain silhouette visible from base
- Seattle (1 hr) — Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Flight (with Air Force One exhibit), and the original Starbucks
- Olympic National Park (2 hrs) — Temperate rainforest (Hoh), rugged Pacific coastline (Ruby Beach), and alpine peaks — three ecosystems in one UNESCO World Heritage park
- Point Defiance Park (Tacoma, 15 min) — 760-acre urban park with zoo, aquarium, old-growth forest trails, and stunning Puget Sound waterfront views
- Leavenworth (2.5 hrs) — Bavarian-themed mountain town in the Cascades; Christmas lighting festival is legendary, summer offers river tubing and hiking
- San Juan Islands (3 hrs including ferry) — Whale watching, kayaking with orcas, and the charming artist community of Friday Harbor
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
C-17 Globemaster III on the McChord Field flight line
housing
On-base family housing in the Lewis-McChord Communities
neighborhood
The historic village of DuPont, 5 minutes from base
nature
Mount Rainier — visible from JBLM on clear days
downtown
Downtown Tacoma waterfront along Ruston Way
restaurant
Pacific Northwest salmon at a Tacoma seafood restaurant