Wow, who lives in these neighborhoods? (Seattle, Bellevue: low crime, home, employment)

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by civic94

you pretty much nailed everything, except for boeing workers.

Boeing workers cannot afford Mercer Island.

Unless you count the chief of flight testing for the 747 and 787. They get paid big bucks based on the risk and schedule of the program they save, etc. Also, upper level executives can afford here but many don't live here and opt instead for Seattle, like Queen Anne, since most Boeing executives don't have small children anymore.

[Vinylly]

Originally Posted by wander_around

Just returned from seattle to good ol' sunny so.cal. Was visiting the inlaws out there. Went to Mercer Island for the first time and was like, "wow, who can afford to live like this?" No doubt my shabby income could never land me anything like that. So, who lives there? Microsoft and .com gurus? Doctors and lawyers? The Seattle Mariners? Lol, here I was thinking that Queen Anne is where the elite resided. Silly me. Just curious.

The problem with Mercer Island is; although they really support their public schools, they don't support the retail shops in their community. They usually shop in Bellevue Sq., so, eccept for grocery stores, and survice stations, commerce has a difficult time surviving. You won't find art galleries, great resturants, chique fashion salons, theaters, or bookstores even. They tried a summer art's festival once but that was a failure because the community did not support it, instead they patronized the Pacific N.W. Arts and Crafts Festival in Bellevue. Seattle and Bellevue are far more culturally enlightend.
Our pastor and his family live in Mercer Island. They are not rich. There are lots and lots of 1960 style rambler tract homes that are not particulary desireable today. The 1960's was the greatist period of Mercer Island development. The great homes are those with views or waterfront, just like in Seattle. Frankly, Mercer Island is just another 'burb' without culture.

[Malloric]

Originally Posted by eskercurve

Boeing workers cannot afford Mercer Island.

Unless you count the chief of flight testing for the 747 and 787. They get paid big bucks based on the risk and schedule of the program they save, etc. Also, upper level executives can afford here but many don't live here and opt instead for Seattle, like Queen Anne, since most Boeing executives don't have small children anymore.

Sure they can. I imagine Boeing has a lot of people in mid-level management, engineering, skilled trades pulling down six-figure salaries. A two-income family with both people making that kind of money, say $200-250k gross, could afford to live on Mercer Island easily. The interior isn't THAT expensive, and at that income, a million dollar home isn't a stretch. Most of the interior is under a million. Really, I have to agree with Vinylly. There's not much to do on Mercer.

[seattlenextyear]

For the first time ever, I agree with Vinylly. I was really surprised at how empty Mercer Island was. Besides the really tasty kosher deli and its adjacent independent bookstore, the island doesn't have much to offer.

[limeyx]

Originally Posted by wander_around

Yes, Los Angeles have many great and expensive places to live. San Marino, South Pasadena, Palos Verdes, Newport Beach, Malibu, Brentwood the list is endless. However, we don't have an island with picturesque views that separates our elite from the drama in an oversaturated Los Angeles proper. I just imagined that the people of MI have paid perhaps more to live a island than Angelinos to just merely live on a different part of a street. Lol, you're on your own island! If Los Angeles had that option the prices would be sickening. Anyway, MI was beautiful. I can see why people want to live there.

Maybe a groundswell of the rich in LA will now have to decide to invade Catalina, kick out the natives and helicopter themselves to work every day just to keep up with the Mercer Islanders

[movingmouse]

Mostly, they are professionals and managers in professions and public services, with some others who have done well in sales.

I have often wondered who lives in those rich homes, too. To me, it seems like no one's ever home, or playing in the yard. So, I summarized Mercer Island statistics below from Moderator cut: link removed, which seems a few years old, not necessarily current. The figures on the two lists below are rounded and approximated.

Income explanations require two lists because one can be a janitor for Microsoft, or a CEO of a shed. So, Moderator cut: link removed listed the occupations and the industries separately. The following is in order from most common to least common on Mercer Island.

Occupations:
Management, Professional, and Related Occupations 70%
Sales and Office Occupations 20%
Service Occupations 7%
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation,Accommodation, Food Services 5%
Other Services, Except Public Administration 4%
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving Occupations 2%
Public Administration 2%
Construction, Extraction, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations 1%
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations 0.4%
____________________________________

Industries:
Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, Waste Management Services 24%
Educational Services, Health Care, Social Assistance 21%
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental, Leasing 12%
Manufacturing 9%
Retail Trade 8%
Information 5%
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation, Food Services 5%
Warehousing, Utilities 4%
Except Public Administration 4%
Wholesale Trade 3%
Construction 2%
Public Administration 2%
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, Mining 0.3%

Almost all Mercer Island homes have two incomes and less than two children. Most households give about $10,000 to charity each year. They pay the county $300/mo. in property taxes. They are mostly white with college degrees and many also have advanced degrees. Most are professionals who enjoy a short commute and boating.

Sales and Education were primarily female-dominated, while the higher paying Management and Scientific were mostly male-dominated. I combined a gender neutral list because the difference was not as large as I expected.

[Sandhillian]

I recently received the Mercer Island School District Annual Report. The student population is 73.6% white, 3% qualify for free or reduced price meals at schools and 10.1% receive special education.

You can find a three bedroom or larger home from about $1,700/mo on up if you rent.

As to why people live here - we chose MI for three reasons: schools, easy commute (it is 30 minutes door to door for my husband to take the bus to downtown Seattle) and a smaller community life style. It's true that there are surprisingly few businesses. People live here primarily because of the great schools and drive to Seattle or Bellevue (each about 10 minutes away) for whatever they need off island.

So far, I love it here. People are friendly, there are beautiful parks and the schools are top notch. I don't have to deal with the traffic and parking problems of Seattle but am close enough to go there whenever I want to. We aren't rich but are willing to pay more for rent for the opportunity to live here.

[Freebird2007]

Originally Posted by swerver

I'm pretty sure there are one or 2 expensive neighborhoods in so.cal, it's not that odd is it? I'm surprised that you are surprised.

my thoughts exactly. Where is the OP from? South Central LA?

[wegotworms]

We currently live in Orange County, CA and are moving to Seattle soon. We have three small children and while I like Sammamish and Issaquah for houses, we are also looking at Mercer Island because of the fast commute for my husband to work in downtown Seattle. To let you know, there are about four houses we could afford on the island, even moving from southern CA, so it is expensive. But to a previous poster's point, we can't afford ANY in Medina, so I guess Mercer Island is at least cheaper than some areas!

[AddyLaddy]

Redfin has a new Seattle Sweet digs article looking at where the $3m+ homes are located in King County;

Redfin Sweet Digs Seattle: Seattle real estate blog focusing on hot properties and current market trends.

Quoting from it;

98112 – The zip code with the most $3 million+ sales in 2011. It includes areas of Broadmoor, Madison Park, Washington Park, Montlake and Capitol Hill. It took the crown from 98004 (Clyde Hill, Yarrow Point, Hunt’s Point, Bellevue), which led in 2009 and 2010.