Last updated Jul 2, 2026
Relocating to a new city brings a long list of questions. Where should you live? How much will it cost? What should you do with your belongings while you house-hunt, wait for housing, or bridge the gap between move-out and move-in dates?
If Lakewood, Washington is on your shortlist, this guide breaks down neighborhoods, housing costs, commuting considerations, and storage planning for a smoother transition.
Lakewood sits south of Tacoma and Seattle, making it a practical choice for military families, healthcare workers, commuters, and people looking for more room than they might find farther north. Whether you're arriving on military orders or looking for a more affordable housing option in Pierce County, here's what to know before the moving truck pulls in.
Lakewood is a city of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character. Picking the right one comes down to your budget, lifestyle, commute, and how close you want to be to work, schools, parks, or water.
Oakbrook is often described as one of Lakewood's more desirable residential areas. According to Homes.com, Oakbrook is known for single-family homes, nearby golf, and a quieter neighborhood feel.
For families, remote workers, or anyone looking for a more residential setting, Oakbrook may be worth exploring during the house-hunting process.
Lakewood earns its name from the water. The city includes access to several lakes, including American Lake, Gravelly Lake, Lake Steilacoom, and Lake Louise. The Windermere neighborhood guide highlights Lakewood's lake-centered lifestyle and recreation options.
If you own a boat, kayak, paddleboard, camping gear, or seasonal outdoor equipment, lake-area living can be appealing. Just remember that recreation gear takes up space quickly, especially if your new home has a smaller garage or limited outdoor storage.
Tillicum sits near Joint Base Lewis-McChord and can be a practical area for military families, first-time renters, and people who want closer access to the south end of Lakewood. Local neighborhood information from Trulia describes Tillicum as a diverse area with local amenities and base access nearby.
No matter which neighborhood you choose, the house-hunting process rarely lines up perfectly with your move-out date. Transitional storage can help when the old place, new place, and moving schedule do not line up neatly.
One of the biggest reasons people consider Lakewood is relative affordability compared with many parts of the Seattle area.
Housing costs vary by neighborhood, timing, home size, and market conditions, but local data can help frame the decision:
Median home value: Lakewood housing data from Data USA provides a useful reference point for local home values.
Median rent: RentCafe tracks average rent trends for Lakewood apartments.
Rent by unit size: Zumper provides rental data by bedroom count, which can help renters compare studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and larger units.
For anyone leaving a higher-cost market, Lakewood may offer more room for the money. Just remember to budget for the less obvious moving costs, too: deposits, utility changes, truck rentals, packing supplies, temporary lodging, and short-term storage can all add up.
If you plan to keep a job in Seattle or commute north occasionally, transportation matters. Lakewood Station connects riders to regional transit options, including Sounder service toward Seattle.
For hybrid and remote workers, an occasional train or driving commute may be a manageable trade-off for lower housing costs. For daily commuters, check current transit schedules, parking availability, and drive times before choosing a neighborhood.
Moving rarely happens in one clean step. Between selling, buying, renting, base housing, and lease timing, many people run into a transition period where belongings need to stay somewhere other than the old home or the new one.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord creates a steady cycle of moves in and out of the Lakewood area. PCS moves, deployments, temporary lodging, and housing wait times can all create temporary storage needs.
For military families, month-to-month storage can be useful when timelines change. A unit can hold household goods, seasonal items, outdoor gear, or extra furniture while housing plans are still being finalized.
SecureSpace Self Storage Lakewood offers month-to-month leases, which can help when you do not know exactly how long you will need storage.
Lakewood and the surrounding area include healthcare workers, shift workers, and professionals with schedules that do not always fit standard business hours. If you're relocating for work, practical access hours can matter.
SecureSpace Self Storage Lakewood offers daily gate access from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Office hours vary by day, so check current facility details if you need in-person help, leasing-office assistance, or moving supplies.
If you're selling a home, ending a lease, or waiting for a new place to be ready, closing dates and move-in dates may not align. Storage can help you stage belongings, hold furniture during a home sale, or manage a timing gap without rushing decisions.
Storage prices in Lakewood depend on unit size, availability, rental timing, access type, and current promotions. Because rates can change, it is best to review current rental details directly before choosing a unit.
When comparing facilities, look beyond price alone. Loading access, gate hours, rental flexibility, unit size, payment options, and available moving support can all affect how easy the move feels on the day you arrive.
At SecureSpace Self Storage Lakewood, drive-up units and a one-floor layout can make unloading more direct when available. Carts and dollies are also available for heavier boxes and household items. For account management, the facility offers online payments along with ACH and credit card payment plans.
The facility also includes access and monitoring features such as an access gate, digital video recording, logged access, overnight surveillance, touchless computer-controlled access, and Turing Enabled monitoring. Customers should still use a quality lock, keep an inventory, and review coverage options before move-in.
Choosing a unit size is one of the most common sticking points for first-time renters. Start by estimating your box count, measuring your largest furniture pieces, and deciding whether you need room to access items while they are stored.
A 5x5 or 5x10 unit can work for boxes, seasonal items, dorm belongings, and smaller apartment moves.
A 5x15 or 10x10 unit may fit apartment furniture, a mattress set, boxes, small appliances, and household overflow.
A 10x15, 10x20, or 10x30 unit may be a better fit for larger moves, bulky furniture, business supplies, or whole-house storage needs.
SecureSpace Self Storage Lakewood offers 5x5, 5x10, 5x15, 10x10, 10x15, 10x20, and 10x30 storage units. Availability can change, so review current options before planning your move.
Outdoor parking is also available for eligible vehicles, boats, and RVs. Before renting parking, confirm size fit, documentation requirements, current availability, and facility rules.
Lakewood is often more affordable than many areas farther north, especially compared with parts of the Seattle market. Local home-value data from Data USA and rent data from RentCafe and Zumper can help you compare current housing costs before you move.
Yes. SecureSpace Self Storage Lakewood serves customers in the Lakewood and JBLM area from 12611 Pacific Highway Southwest. Month-to-month leases can be useful for PCS moves, deployments, temporary housing gaps, and other household transitions.
Sounder service connects Lakewood Station with Seattle-area destinations. Commute times and departure options can vary by schedule, so check current transit information before planning a regular commute.
For boxes and small household items, a 5x5 or 5x10 may be enough. For apartment furniture, consider a 5x15 or 10x10. For larger household moves, bulky furniture, or business supplies, a 10x15, 10x20, or 10x30 may be a better fit. Measure large items and review current availability before renting.
Yes. SecureSpace Self Storage Lakewood offers month-to-month leases, giving customers flexibility when move-in dates, housing timelines, or renovation schedules are uncertain.
SecureSpace Self Storage Lakewood offers outdoor parking for eligible vehicles, boats, and RVs. Confirm current availability, size fit, documentation requirements, and facility rules before renting.
Relocating is a big undertaking, but the right plan makes it easier to manage. Research neighborhoods, compare housing costs, think through your commute, and decide whether storage can help bridge the gap between homes.
Before renting, estimate how much you need to store, measure bulky items, and choose a unit size that gives you enough room to unload and retrieve belongings without overpacking.
Review current rental details for storage units at SecureSpace Lakewood.
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