Purdy - Gig Harbor Area
Five distinct communities. Henderson Bay at the center. More water access than most buyers expect.
The Purdy area encompasses five communities along the northern edge of the Gig Harbor Peninsula, where Henderson Bay, Burley Lagoon, and Carr Inlet converge. This is the part of the Peninsula where buyers consistently find more land, more water, and more value per dollar than the closer-in neighborhoods around downtown Gig Harbor, without giving up the connection to the Peninsula's amenities and way of life.
Each of these five communities has its own distinct character: the waterfront and acreage depth of Burley, the saltwater history and spit access of Purdy, the Henderson Bay frontage of Minter, the lower-density bay setting of Wauna, and the residential character of Wauna Shores. Taken together, they represent some of the most accessible waterfront and larger-lot options on the southern Puget Sound. Stacia Whatley has been working in these neighborhoods for 17 years.
What the Neighborhood Looks Like
The Communities
Burley
Burley is a residential area located north of Henderson Bay, sitting across the Kitsap/Pierce County line between Gig Harbor and Port Orchard. The community is defined by its proximity to Burley Lagoon, a protected tidal inlet offering waterfront access, views of the Olympic Mountains, and some of the most distinctive larger-lot properties in the greater Gig Harbor area. Properties here range from mid-century homes on wooded lots to substantial waterfront parcels with significant frontage on the lagoon. Burley Lagoon waterfront is genuinely rare, many properties with original setback configurations that would not be possible under current regulations.
Waterfront properties on Burley Lagoon with Olympic Mountain views
Larger lots: many on an acre or more, heavily wooded with Douglas fir
Low residential density: more separation between properties than closer-in neighborhoods
Easy access to Highway 16 for Port Orchard to the north and Gig Harbor to the south
Yoked Farmhouse and Brewery, Burley Store, and Horseshoe Lake County Park nearby
Minutes to Gig Harbor North amenities including Costco, Target, and St. Anthony Hospital
Peninsula School District and South Kitsap School District serve this area depending on location
Purdy
Purdy is a small unincorporated community along the shores of Burley Lagoon and Henderson Bay in Carr Inlet, just north of Gig Harbor. Its defining geographic feature is the Purdy Spit, a mile-long sand-spit separating the lagoon from the bay, with a public boat launch, beach access, and tidelands access for shellfish harvesting. Purdy has been an oyster-producing community since the late 1800s, and Japanese oysters and clams continue to be cultivated in the lagoon and on the sandbars today. Properties here include forested single-family homes on lots of an acre or more, as well as waterfront parcels on both the lagoon and the bay side. Purdy Drive, the main corridor through the community, runs along the waterfront with local businesses including The Float pub and Massimo restaurant.
Properties along both Burley Lagoon and Henderson Bay with water views
The Purdy Spit: public boat launch, beach access, and shellfish harvesting grounds
Forested lots typically one acre or more; mid-century through newer construction
Entry-level homes from approximately $550,000; larger properties ranging to $700,000 and beyond
The Key Peninsula Kayak Trail accessible from Purdy, one of 15 launch points for nearly 400 miles of coastline
Local businesses including The Float, Massimo, and Local Boys farm stand on Purdy Drive
Washington Route 302 crosses the water at Purdy, connecting the Gig Harbor Peninsula to the Key Peninsula
Less than 10 minutes to downtown Gig Harbor and Gig Harbor North amenities
Peninsula School District and Peninsula High School serve this area
Wauna Shores
Wauna Shores is a residential community adjacent to Wauna, offering a more developed and connected residential character than some of the surrounding rural areas while maintaining the natural setting and bay access that defines this part of the Peninsula. Properties here benefit from the same Henderson Bay proximity and Highway 302 access as Wauna, with a range of home sizes and styles suited to buyers looking for a lower-density Peninsula setting within reach of Gig Harbor's amenities. Wauna Shores is well-positioned for commuters, with access to both Gig Harbor via SR-16 and Port Orchard in the opposite direction.
Residential community adjacent to Wauna with Henderson Bay proximity
Range of home sizes and styles, more developed than surrounding rural areas
Easy access to Highway 302 and Highway 16 for commuting in both directions
Close to 360 Trails Park and Purdy boat launch
Peninsula School District serves this area
Within reach of Gig Harbor North amenities including major retailers and St. Anthony Hospital
Minter
Minter is a waterfront community at the northern end of the Key Peninsula, situated on the shores of Henderson Bay approximately 13 miles from downtown Gig Harbor. It includes the private neighborhood of Lake Minterwood, set on its namesake freshwater lake with two secluded beaches, a boat launch, and recreational amenities for residents. Saltwater properties on Henderson Bay offer sweeping views of Mount Rainier across the water, with access to wildlife including bald eagles, deer, harbor seals, and seasonal salmon runs at nearby Minter Creek. The area has a notably low-density character, the kind of setting where properties rarely change hands, and buyers who find the right home tend to stay.
Saltwater frontage on Henderson Bay with Mount Rainier views
Lake Minterwood: private freshwater community with beach access, boat launch, and recreational courts
Approximately 13 miles from downtown Gig Harbor via Highway 302
Wildlife in the area: bald eagles, harbor seals, deer, and seasonal salmon runs at Minter Creek
Minterbrook Oyster Company operates in the area, shellfish harvesting from the bay
Very low listing activity: properties here are held long-term and rarely come to market
Peninsula School District serves this area
Wauna
Wauna is a small coastal community along Henderson Bay in Case Inlet, approximately six miles northwest of Gig Harbor. It sits at a slightly lower density than the communities closer to Purdy, with a median real estate price around $613,000 and a 0.0% vacancy rate, a reflection of very strong attachment to the community among current residents. Properties here enjoy views of Henderson Bay, the Cascades, and Mount Rainier, with direct access to water sports including boating, kayaking, jet-skiing, and shellfish harvesting. The Purdy boat launch is nearby, and 360 Trails Park, a 2.5-mile main loop with nine total miles of multi-use trails, is less than five minutes away.
Waterfront and water-view properties along Henderson Bay with Cascade and Mount Rainier views
Median home price approximately $613,000, one of the more accessible waterfront-adjacent options in the area
360 Trails Park nearby: nine miles of multi-use trails including equestrian, biking, and hiking
Purdy boat launch within close reach for water access
Lower-density coastal residential setting with strong owner-occupancy rates
Access to Highway 302 connecting to Gig Harbor and Highway 16
Peninsula School District serves this area
The Market
The five communities of the Purdy area share a common thread: more property, more water access, and more value per dollar than most buyers find in the closer-in Gig Harbor neighborhoods, without giving up the Peninsula character they came looking for in the first place. Burley Lagoon waterfront, Henderson Bay frontage in Minter and Wauna, and the Purdy Spit's unique shellfish and boating access are among the most distinctive property attributes anywhere on the southern Puget Sound.
What distinguishes these communities from one another is the degree of connection and density. Purdy and Burley offer the most developed community infrastructure with the clearest access to Gig Harbor amenities. Minter and Wauna lean toward lower listing activity, longer holding periods, and buyers who specifically seek out the area for its remoteness and bay character. Wauna Shores occupies the middle ground, residential without being rural, connected without being close-in.
For sellers in this area, understanding where your property fits within this range matters considerably. A Burley Lagoon waterfront property and a forested acreage lot in Wauna are not competing in the same buyer pool and the right marketing strategy reflects that distinction. For buyers, working with a broker who knows the micro-market differences across these five communities is a genuine advantage.
Stacia Whatley has been working in the Purdy area and surrounding communities for 17 years. Whether you are thinking about your next move or trying to understand what your current property is worth in today's market, the conversation starts here.
→ Interested in Downtown Purdy? Let's start the conversation.
