McChord AFB is a community in Pierce County, Washington, home to about 2,999 people across 5.9 square miles. Its ZIP codes are 98438 and 98439.
All in McChord AFB
Mostly McChord AFB; also Lakewood
We’re writing up McChord AFB’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows McChord AFB well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)23 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW)9 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Seattle, WA34 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of McChord AFB; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
McChord AFB had 3,188 residents in the 2020 census, down 22% since 2000.
It’s the 261st largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.
Pierce County grew from 55,515 residents in 1900 to 921,130 in 2020.
Pierce County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 77°F in summer, and winter lows average 37°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Tacoma #1, WA weather station (8 miles away).
294,765 jobs at 20,051 businesses in Pierce County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
43 doctors and other health care providers list an office in McChord AFB’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 8 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 2 |
| Dentists | 8 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 12 |
| Mental health providers | 10 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 1 |
| Optometrists | 2 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (7 nearby)
Grocery stores (4 nearby)
Pharmacies (4 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (2 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Clover Park School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Lake Elementary SchoolJBLM McChord Field | Pre-K–5 | 420 | Public | 1.4 mi |
| Special Education Services/relifeLakewood | Pre-K–12 | 4 | Special Education | 1.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around McChord AFB? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Lakewood.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.