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Living in
Mercer Island.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Mercer Island
If you're considering Mercer Island, understand upfront that you're looking at one of the country's most expensive real estate markets—median home values top $1.8 million and rents run around $2,500 monthly. That said, the median household income of $219,000 reflects who lives here: established professionals, many with advanced degrees (78.8% college-educated), working in nearby Seattle and Bellevue. Your commute will average about 25 minutes, and the new light rail connection to both cities has made that easier.
Mercer Island at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Foreign-Born
26.4%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics26.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Mercer Island: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mercer Island, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (25.0%), and 9.4% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
21.5%
of residents
65 and Older
22.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.0%
of households
Married Couples
63.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.50
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 42% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Mercer Island
In Mercer Island, rent runs 42% above the WA average, and home values are 254% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
67.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $2,212,845 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Mercer Island and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Mercer Island is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Mercer Island Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute23.6 min avg
How Mercer Island residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mercer Island, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI)
Regional airport · few flights31k passengers boarded in 2025
- 10 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 80% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mercer Island runs 80% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
67.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
952.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mercer Island Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
King County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In King County, which includes Mercer Island, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Heavy Rain | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $474,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
30 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Mercer Island is about 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes Mercer Island, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
King County, county-wide
Mercer Island is about 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mercer Island has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.5"
Annual Snowfall
3.8"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
30
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
154
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 37°F | 5.21" |
| Feb | 51°F | 37°F | 3.71" |
| Mar | 55°F | 39°F | 3.94" |
| Apr | 60°F | 44°F | 2.89" |
| May | 67°F | 49°F | 1.98" |
| Jun | 71°F | 54°F | 1.22" |
| Jul | 77°F | 58°F | 0.56" |
| Aug | 77°F | 58°F | 0.83" |
| Sep | 72°F | 54°F | 1.37" |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 53°F | 40°F | 5.80" |
| Dec | 48°F | 36°F | 5.49" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mercer Island
Uninsured
1.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Mercer Island's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Seattle VA Medical Center (va Puget Sound Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Seattle
Overlake Hospital Medical Center & Clinics
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Bellevue
Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Seattle
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mercer Island
Mercer Island's student/teacher ratio is 18.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 81.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
81.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Mercer Island (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,942 students · in-state tuition $13,406 · 85% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,364 students · in-state tuition $4,580 · 48% graduate · median earnings $63,508 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
13.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,457 students · in-state tuition $13,472 · 80% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,062 students · in-state tuition $58,965 · 74% graduate · median earnings $84,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,953 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 42% graduate · median earnings $48,906 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mercer Island
Mercer Island has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
5 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
49 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
55 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
69 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
76 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mercer Island
Mercer Island Library
4400 88th Avenue Se, Mercer Island
Cities Near Mercer Island
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mercer Island?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mercer Island FAQ
Is Mercer Island, Washington affordable?⌄
Mercer Island's median rent is $2,502/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $219,069/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Mercer Island, Washington safe?⌄
Mercer Island's violent crime rate was 68 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 953 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mercer Island, Washington?⌄
Mercer Island has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mercer Island, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Mercer Island is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,502/month and median household income is $219,069/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mercer Island, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Mercer Island is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from