Living in Gig Harbor has a coastal quality. People living here are surrounded by water, nature, and incredible views of Mt Rainier and the Olympics. Gig Harbor is located just over the bridge from Tacoma, WA. Though it was once a sleepy fishing village, Gig Harbor is growing fast. Home to some of the finest view homes in Pierce County, homes in Gig Harbor run from lovely home in planned communities to homes on acreage and luxury view homes with saltwater access. The area has won awards for quality of live from Coastal Living Magazine and others.
What’s the difference between living in Tacoma and Gig Harbor?
Each person is looking for something different in the place they call home. Since The Harbor and Tacoma are so different, once people have all the information it’s usually pretty easy for them to decide. We here at MovetoTacoma.com are VERY biased towards Tacoma (and have in fact never lived in The Harbor). What we love is talking with folks who’ve lived in both Gig Harbor AND Tacoma to get a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of each area. In this video we interviewed Erin Farquhar who grew up in Tacoma and now lives in Artondale. To learn more check out our article, “Comparing Gig Harbor and Tacoma.”
What is commuting from Gig Harbor like?
Commuting from Gig Harbor is pretty straight forward. If you’re commuting north to Seattle you have two choices. You can drive over the Narrows Bridge and up I-5 (which also takes you past Tacoma and Sea-Tac Airport) or you can drive up to Southworth and catch the Fast Ferry to Seattle.
What kind of shopping is available in Gig Harbor?
Gig Harbor has a variety of shopping available depending on what part you’re in. Downtown Gig Harbor has cute little shops and restaurants. The Uptown area of Gig Harbor has stores like Safeway, Homegoods, Marshall’s, other clothing stores, a movie theater, and restaurants. To see some local shops in Gig Harbor check out this video tour:
What neighborhoods are in Gig Harbor?
These are the main neighborhoods in Gig Harbor, Washington. Downtown Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor North, Uptown, Artondale, Rosedale, Wollochet Bay, Kopachuck Ridge/Horsehead Bay, Reid Road, Point Fosdick, and Fox Island. You can see where they are on a map by visiting the Clickable Neighborhood Map.
Downtown Gig Harbor
Downtown Gig Harbor neighborhood is a peaceful place to call home or even just visit for a quick weekend getaway. Residents and out-of-towners love taking advantage of the beautiful maritime setting, whether it’s enjoying a walk along the waterfront or heading out for a boating adventure. The best way to get a feel for the harbor? Rent a kayak or take a ride on the Gig Harbor Gondola– the best way to tour the neighborhood is from the water!
Median Home Price in Gig Harbor: $779,500
Gig Harbor North
One of the fastest growing parts of Gig Harbor is Gig Harbor North. This growth is all part of Gig Harbor’s strategy to absorb the tens of thousands of new folks moving to Pierce County in the coming years. Many of the new construction neighborhoods, stores, and facilities in Gig Harbor North have been built in the past ten years, with many more homes and businesses still to be built. The Target, the Costco, and the YMCA are all located here- as well as parks and shopping.
Median Price for Homes in Gig Harbor North: $852,000
Artondale
Most of Artondale is in the center of the Gig Harbor area. Artondale is one of the more rural areas of Gig Harbor. It takes about 10 minutes to get to Downtown Gig Harbor from most parts of Artondale and about 10 minutes to get to the Narrows Bridge.
The Median Home Price in Artondale: $760,000
Rosedale
Located right off highway 16 in Gig Harbor, residents of Rosedale have grocery stores nearby as well as restaurants, shopping, entertainment, various golfing opportunities, pharmacy services, and post office.
Rosedale Median Home Price: $906,933
Kopachuck Ridge / Horsehead Bay
Kopachuck ridge and Horsehead Bay used to be the sort of place people had cabins to visit. Now cabins are being replaced, and homes in this neighborhood are some of the most expensive homes in Pierce County. Kopachuck Ridge Estates is a community of 76 homes. The neighborhood has cul-de-sacs and combines custom-built homes with sweeping views and more modest homes. Many of the homes have views of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier.
The Median Home Price in Kopachuck Ridge / Horsehead Bay: $1,220,000
Point Fosdick Area
Median Price: $780,000
Conveniently located near the Narrows Bridge and Highway 16, many homes in Point Fosdick have water views that face Fox Island. The Narrows Airport in located nearby.
Reid Road Area
Median Price: $868,000
Reid Road is now called Reid Drive, but many locals still refer to it as Reid Road. This neighborhood is conveniently located between Downtown Gig Harbor and the Narrows Bridge.
Wollochet Bay
Median Price: $908,000
Wollochet Bay is home to some of Gig Harbor’s finest waterfront homes. The bay opens onto the southern Hale Passage that seperates Fox Island from the Kitsap Peninsula.
Fox Island
Fox Island is quintessential northwest living. Many homes on the outer edges of the island have incredible views of Mt Rainier or the Olympics as well as the water, while homes on the inner part of the island have privacy, property, and a rural feeling. No matter where you live on the island, access to fishing, boating, or a walk on the water is available to everyone. For more information on how much it costs to buy a house on Fox Island right now click here.
Fox Island Median Price: $1,007,500
Key Peninsula
Key Peninsula is one of Pierce County’s most rural locations just past Gig Harbor, WA on the peninsula. From waterfront homes to farms, Key Peninsula is country living.
Median Home Price: $563,000
What are the neighborhoods beyond Gig Harbor?
While Gig Harbor has some of the most expensive neighborhoods in Pierce County the areas further down highway 16 are more affordable. Past Gig Harbor you’ll find neighborhoods like Key Peninsula, Port Orchard, and Ollala. Once you pass Gig Harbor many of the communities are more affordable. If you’re willing to drive a little further (and maybe cross a second bridge) you’ll find more wide open spaces. In addition to affordability you get more acreage and a more rural feel. The median home price in Gig Harbor these days is around $750,000. If you’re willing to drive a little further, you can find homes closer to the Pierce County median home price of $525,000. To learn more check out our blog post, “What are the neighborhoods Beyond Gig Harbor?”
What do the neighbors say about living in Gig Harbor?
You can learn what the neighbors are saying by visiting the neighborhood page for Gig Harbor on our site where we include quotes from locals. You can also check out these interviews from the video series Meet the Neighbors where Gig Harbor residents were profiled about their lives and what they love about living in Gig Harbor.
Want to learn more about the Pierce County Real Estate Market?
The 2022 Pierce County Real Estate Market continues to be a seller’s market. Pierce County home prices rose 18% from 2021 to 2022. The median home price in Pierce County in January 2022 is $525,000. The housing market is most competitive for buyers searching for homes under $650,000. Due to a low inventory of homes for sale buyers agents from across Pierce County are reporting their clients are facing multiple offers. For more information on the real estate market in Tacoma in 2022 check out “Tacoma Real Estate Market 2022.”
Additional resources:
Pierce County’s Most Expensive Neighborhoods
The Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Tacoma
The Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Pierce County
All About Moving to Pierce County
Resources for buying a house in Tacoma:
Step 1: Explore the Clickable Neighborhood Map of Tacoma
Our clickable neighborhood map of Tacoma’s neighborhoods is our pride and joy. Click through to find images and videos of each neighborhood. The Neighborhood guides on the map also include median home price information, blog posts about the neighborhoods, podcast episodes about the neighborhoods, and candid quotes from local neighbors.
Step 2: Listen to the Move to Tacoma Podcast
The best way to learn about Tacoma is to hear from the people who live here. On the Move to Tacoma Podcast Marguerite interviews Tacomans who’ve been here generations and Tacomans who just got here. From business and technology leaders to politicians and activists and everyone in between. The Move to Tacoma Podcast will give you insight into why people move here and how they find meaning and happiness in Tacoma.
Step 3: Read the Blog Posts on MovetoTacoma.com
On the Move to Tacoma Blog we have been writing about things to do in Tacoma, where to eat in Tacoma, hot button community topics, neighborhoods and more since 2015. There are hundreds of posts to help you find what you love in the City of Destiny. From posts about where to eat and drink to interviews with locals- the blog is a great place to keep up one what’s happening in Tacoma and Pierce County.
Step 4: Get a Realtor Referral from Us!
Marguerite Martin is a different kind of Tacoma real estate agent. Reach out to find out answers to questions you have about neighborhoods in Tacoma and Pierce County. When the time is right to start looking, Marguerite can connect you with a local real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you love most. You can see reviews from past clients who’ve worked with Marguerite on Yelp and on Google.
Marguerite Martin, Founder of MoveToTacoma.com is a real estate agent in Tacoma, WA . As a real estate “Matchmaker,” she specializes in connecting real estate clients to the perfect agent in Tacoma and across the country. Learn more at Meet Your Guide.
