For Seattleites, Mercer Island is a utopia in the center of scenic Lake Washington. With a population of around 26,000, this well-established city offers metropolitan life within a leisurely island community. Mercer Island has hiking trails, beaches and a vibrant city center, but its most alluring draw is its welcoming, family-oriented neighborhoods. "People move here for the sense of community, the values and the schools," says Lisa Novak, an Agent at Windermere Real Estate who has lived in the city for nearly 20 years. "You know other folks, and they have your back. Kids can run out and ride bikes together. It feels like a throwback to the 1950s."
The East Mercer neighborhood has incredible views of Lake Washington.
Head to Downtown Mercer Island to find big city amenities close the East Mercer neighborhood.
Pioneer Park features acres of unspoiled forest and various trails for nature walks.
Impressive East Mercer homes sit lakeside looking out towards Bellevue.
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Investing in waterfront real estate
Stylish midcentury architecture has a glassy contemporary look, while traditional waterfront homes have a maritime flair. Coastal neighborhoods have properties that reach 5,000 square feet in areas such as Island Point and Groveland. Additionally, modest ranch-style homes are in walkable neighborhoods, like Parkwood, closer to the city center. "People buy here because property maintains its value, and historically, it doubles every 10 years," Novak says. "It's not only a great place to live, but you get a good return on investment." The median price of single-family homes in Mercer Island is $2.5 million, significantly higher than the national average of $407,200.
Mercer Island Estates features many Midcentury Modern homes along with other styles.
Impressive East Mercer homes sit lakeside looking out towards Bellevue.
Mercer Island Estates features a variety of different homes, including Ranch style.
These homes share a backyard plot of land in the First Hill neighborhood.
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One of the best school districts in Washington
Serving about 4,000 students in the area, the Mercer Island School District earns an A grade from Niche, which rates it the fifth-best public system in Washington. Mercer Island High School boasts an A-plus Niche grade and has an average SAT score of 1390. "Our schools are amazing," Novak says. "People who grew up on the island return to this community for the amazing district."
Lakeridge Elementary serves the younger Mercer Island students in the area.
Islander Middle School earns an A grade Niche and serves the students on Mercer Island.
Mercer Island High School earns an A+ from Niche and offers many extracurricular programs.
Island Park Elementary School serves students in the Appleton area.
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Lakefront beaches and hiking areas
Mercer Island has nearly 500 acres of public parks and recreation areas. Aubrey Davis Park features athletic facilities with views of the Seattle Skyline. The I-90 Trail is a greenway path spanning 10 miles along the interstate, providing bike access to Seattle and Bellevue. The island also features multiple boat landings and sandy beaches in areas like Luther Burbank Park, which has an extensive boardwalk path. "There are plenty of ways to connect with nature," Novak says. "Mercer Island has a great trail system and a lot of hiking areas. Many people have boats, and there are both public and private beaches for people to enjoy the scenery."
Aubrey Davis Park is in the First Hill neighborhood of Mercer Island, WA.
Aubrey Davis Park is on the northern end of Mercer Island.
Mercer Island parks feature many public boat landings.
Appleton bike enthusiast's head to the Mercer Island Bike Skills Park to take some laps.
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Artsy and modern Downtown
Downtown Mercer Island is an innovative city center with colorful modern architecture and an upbeat vibe as traffic connects to the surrounding cities. Its core is a modest selection of fitness studios, coffee shops and bookstores. There are sculptures along the trail system, and several galleries downtown are part of the city's monthly art walk. Dining options include upscale Italian restaurants, cafes and Asian eateries. Metropolitan Market is a high-end grocery store, and QFC is a supermarket on either end of the island.
There are many artworks sprinkled throughout Downtown Mercer Island.
Mercer Island Florist has been serving the Downtown Mercer Island community for 55 years.
Island Books is one of the best bookstores around and is located in Downtown Mercer Island.
Mioposto in Downtown Mercer Island is a neighborhood favorite for pizza.
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The surrounding tech industry
The city government and the Mercer Island School District are the island's most significant employers. However, Mercer Island has a high average income and access to King County's tech scene. "Big tech companies have locations on both sides of the lake, so it's a very convenient location," says Marcel Kluetz, Broker at Queen Anne Real Estate. Companies such as Amazon, Boeing and Microsoft all have headquarters in the surrounding cities, each employing more than 50,000 people. "We moved here because my husband works in tech," Novak says. "Many people who worked for Boeing are now retired here."
Microsoft has a large presence in Southeast Redmond and is the area's main employer.
Boeing is a large employer in the Seattle-Tacoma region and close to Mercer Island.
The Amazon headquarters in downtown Seattle is a short drive away from Mercer Island.
Mercer Island High School.
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Park & Ride to Downtown Seattle
The city's Park & Ride area provides access to the King County Metro and Sound Transit bus systems. The East Link light rail will likely connect to Mercer Island in the spring of 2025. Interstate 90 is a floating expressway to Bellevue and Issaquah. Downtown Seattle is about 7 miles west on I-90. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is roughly 17 miles south for worldwide travel.
Lower crime rates and beautiful Seattle summers
According to FBI crime statistics, violent crime in Mercer Island is substantially lower than the national average. Property crime is slightly more on pace with national trends but still considerably lower than the average rate in Washington.
This city experiences a temperate climate with wet winters and warm summers. "There's nothing more beautiful than being on a Seattle beach in the summer. Our summers are just amazing," Novak says.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
