Gig Harbor - North Tacoma, WA
Gig Harbor and North Tacoma serve two different flavors of “I’ve made it” in the South Sound: North Tacoma is classic, quietly cultured, and neighborhood-forward, tree-lined streets, historic homes with real character (and sometimes real quirks), quick access to Proctor, Old Town, Ruston Way, and Point Defiance, plus an easy hop into downtown Tacoma’s restaurants, museums, and nightlife without living in the chaos. Gig Harbor, meanwhile, is waterfront charm turned all the way up, marina views, boating and paddle-boarding as casual weekday hobbies, boutique shopping and cozy dining around the harbor, and a pace that feels more “savor your latte” than “race the clock,” while still being within striking distance of Tacoma/Seattle when real life demands it. Both are outdoorsy at heart (hello, sunsets and salt air), but North Tacoma leans vibrant-city-adjacent and Gig Harbor leans seaside sanctuary, with a shared love of great views, great coffee, and not being impressed by rain.
Who is Stacia Whatley to Gig Harbor - North Tacoma?
I’m Stacia Whatley, and Gig Harbor and North Tacoma are the places where my real estate career stopped being a “job” and became the real thing. I spent nine years living in Gig Harbor, so I know the vibe: salt air, harbor views, weekends that somehow involve coffee and the water, and the kind of community where life feels a little more intentional.
And Tacoma? It’s always been personal, my dad’s boat is moored there, so the waterfront isn’t just a selling point to me, it’s a lifestyle. These aren’t just dots on a map; they’re neighborhoods with personality, architecture with stories, and micro-markets that can change from one street to the next (and yes, some traffic routes will absolutely try you).
I’ve come full circle back to Hawkins-Poe Inc. in Pierce County, right where I learned the business and built my foundation and my focus is simple: help buyers and sellers in North Tacoma and Gig Harbor make smart, strategic moves with precision pricing, high-impact marketing, sharp negotiation, and a clean path to closing without the chaos. Whether you’re relocating, upsizing, downsizing, or cashing in on equity, I’m here to keep you informed, protected, and confidently in control long after the keys change hands.
Neighborhoods/Communities I Serve
Gig Harbor
North Tacoma
Fircrest
University Place
Hawkins-Poe Inc.
Hawkins-Poe Real Estate Services was introduced in Fircrest, Washington in 1946 and has been locally owned and operated ever since, built on a deceptively simple philosophy from founder Jack Hawkins: people make good decisions when they’re given good information. That “integrity-first, information-forward” standard has carried the company through three generations, shaping a boutique firm that stays deeply rooted in Pierce County while adapting to the market’s constant curveballs (because real estate loves drama). Over decades of helping buyers and sellers through every kind of market cycle, Hawkins-Poe has refined its approach around experience, professionalism, and seeing trends early, so clients aren’t guessing, they’re strategizing.
Pierce County Market Snapshot
The Pierce County Market Snapshot is your monthly pulse-check on what’s actually happening in our local real estate market, no guesswork, no hype, and definitely no “the market is on fire!” nonsense. Each month, I break down the key stats year over year so you can clearly see what’s shifting (and what’s not) in pricing, inventory, days on market, and overall market momentum.
It’s built to help you spot trends early, understand how Pierce County compares to the same time last year, and make smarter decisions, whether you’re thinking about selling, buying, relocating, or just keeping tabs on your biggest asset.
ACTIVE LISTINGS
PENDING SALES
MONTHS OF INVENTORY
NEW LISTINGS
CLOSED SALES
MEDIAN SALES PRICE
TOP LIFESTYLE
Living in Pierce County, WA is basically “choose your own adventure” with a mountain as your dramatic backdrop, Mt. Rainier looms like a screensaver you get to live inside. You can do city life in Tacoma (arts, breweries, waterfront vibes), lean into small-town charm in places like Gig Harbor or Puyallup, or go full outdoorsy with quick access to trails, lakes, and weekend escapes in every direction. The lifestyle here is equal parts cozy and capable: coffee stands on every corner, farmers markets and local events keep things community-driven, and you’re never far from either a date-night restaurant or a place to disappear into the trees and pretend emails don’t exist. It’s a county where you can wear flannel and still be fancy, just swap hiking boots for heels and call it “Pacific Northwest formal.”
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Arts/music, museums, breweries, great food, walkable pockets, and waterfront energy, city convenience without Seattle-level chaos.
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Marinas, paddleboards, sunsets, and “let’s grab oysters” kind of weekends. Coastal charm with a polished, slower pace.
For Tacoma/UP commuters, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the workhorse route, and it’s all about timing and toll budgeting (because yes, it adds up). Bottom line: where you live in Kitsap isn’t just a vibe choice, it’s a lifestyle choice that affects your daily schedule, costs, and sanity, so commuting patterns should be part of the home search conversation from day one.
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Bigger neighborhoods, schools/sports, parks, shopping, and that “my life runs on a calendar and Costco” efficiency.
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A steady, structured rhythm shaped by service, commutes and schedules matter, communities skew practical and tight-knit, and you’ll see a constant flow of new faces (and moving trucks). Housing needs often lean toward “efficient and close to base,” with a big rental market presence, while local businesses and events tend to be very supportive of military families and veterans. It’s a lifestyle with built-in community… and an unusually high tolerance for early mornings.
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Trail time, lakes, camping, hunting/fishing, and serious “weekend warrior” energy, space to breathe, gear to store, and nature on speed dial.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Tacoma & Gig Harbor
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Both are “Puget Sound premium” markets, housing is the big driver. Tacoma overall is commonly cited around ~23–24% higher than the national average, while Gig Harbor is often reported higher than national average as well (how much depends on the source and assumptions). The practical takeaway: the closer you are to water/views and the more turnkey the home, the faster the numbers climb.
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“Best” depends on your priorities, so think in lifestyle zones, not “this one street is perfect.” In North Tacoma, you’ll generally see a mix of classic older homes, pockets of newer construction, and everything from busier corridors to quieter residential areas. In Gig Harbor, you’ll find a blend of in-town convenience, more tucked-away residential pockets, and rural-feeling stretches as you head out the peninsula. If you want help narrowing it down, I focus on commute patterns, home style, lot size, and proximity to what you actually do every week, then we match those criteria to available inventory (not stereotypes). (And yes, I’ll be blunt about tradeoffs.)
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Most folks use some combination of driving + park-and-ride + transit. From Tacoma, Sound Transit runs ST Express routes (like the 590) and the Sounder S Line (commuter rail) is a common option for downtown Seattle commutes. From Gig Harbor, many commuters use ST Express 595 plus park-and-rides, or drive across the Narrows Bridge/SR-16 to connect into Tacoma’s transit hubs.
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North Tacoma is generally served by Tacoma Public Schools (TPS). Gig Harbor is served by Peninsula School District. Because boundaries can be hyper-specific (and change), the safest way to confirm is by address using the district locator tools, TPS provides an address lookup/school locator.
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It’s a marine climate: lots of gray-and-drizzle season, generally mild temps, and summers that finally remember they’re supposed to be pleasant. West of the Cascades you typically get abundant winter rain, infrequent snow, and drier summers. For a reality check on “how rainy,” Gig Harbor’s annual precip is commonly shown around ~42 inches (varies by station and year). Translation: buy the good rain jacket, not the cute one.
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Yes! This region has a strong military footprint and a lot of households with military ties. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is in Pierce County, roughly ~9 miles southwest of Tacoma. And the broader area is heavily influenced by Naval Base Kitsap / Puget Sound Naval Shipyard across the Sound. Practically, that often means you’ll find services and community familiarity with PCS moves, VA-related conversations, and military timelines, without anyone acting like it’s exotic.