08-19-2008, 03:54 PM
21 posts, read
46,417 times
Reputation: 15
work in Tacoma, live on Mercer Island
We are in the process of relocating to the area. All the posts I have read so far are so thoughtful and loaded with information and insight
. Can anyone comment on what the realities of 'working in Tacoma and living in the north western section of Mercer Island' would be? I think this would involve leaving for Tacoma around 6:30am and heading home after 6pm. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!
08-19-2008, 09:31 PM
Location: Sumner, WA
247 posts, read
374,127 times
Reputation: 120
Wow. It would be long days ahead with that commute. The range in time seems about right to me; I think you would be in for nearly 2 hour commutes, from the time you leave your driveway to the time you park in a lot at work; and then again on your way home. You would have to face crossing I-90 on one of the bridges and choose which Interstate to go South on, I-405/Highway 167 or I-5. Living on the North end of the island will give you an advantage compared to if you lived in the South end.
08-19-2008, 09:50 PM
6,749 posts, read
10,093,430 times
Reputation: 2604
I'll agree with tudorjason. It'll be at least an hour one way, if you're lucky.
08-19-2008, 09:51 PM
1,305 posts, read
528,070 times
Reputation: 238
I have a hard time fathoming why a person who can afford to live on Mercer Island would need to work in Tacoma. It would make so much more sense to live around Tacoma (not IN Tacoma, but somewhere that is nice closer to Tacoma) or to work in Seattle.
08-19-2008, 11:18 PM
2,191 posts, read
4,439,504 times
Reputation: 1064
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bigtrees
I have a hard time fathoming why a person who can afford to live on Mercer Island would need to work in Tacoma. It would make so much more sense to live around Tacoma (not IN Tacoma, but somewhere that is nice closer to Tacoma) or to work in Seattle.
There are some nice parts of Tacoma. If the OP can afford Mercer, they can probably afford the Proctor area. As well as Old Town.
08-19-2008, 11:27 PM
3 posts, read
5,300 times
Reputation: 11
wow.. you would be dealing with a long drive. i had a job oppurtunity in the tacoma area and i live and renton and with traffic that would be an hour. mercer island to tacoma would be much longer, considering the fact that traffic is worse in that area. i think once you get here and do the drive yourself you'll see how long it really is. i just moved here and on the map it doesn't seem to far at all from renton to tacoma but once i did the drive, it was horrible.
08-19-2008, 11:54 PM
6,749 posts, read
10,093,430 times
Reputation: 2604
There are some nice parts of Tacoma. If the OP can afford Mercer, they can probably afford the Proctor area. As well as Old Town.
08-20-2008, 08:06 AM
Location: Seattle area, via Bay Area and Phoenix
1,486 posts, read
3,268,201 times
Reputation: 508
Having heard about Tacoma second hand, we were very impressed (and surprised) by the beauty and value of these neighborhoods after moving here from California. We briefly thought about moving to the Tacoma waterfront, before coming to our senses on what a daily commute to Renton (my wife) and Bellevue (me) would be like.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ira500
Not simply nice parts of Tacoma, there are parts of Tacoma that are absolutely gorgeous and are great neighborhoods. Proctor, Old Town, Ruston, Point Defiance, other parts of North Tacoma, and Browns Point.
08-20-2008, 11:20 AM
24 posts, read
41,596 times
Reputation: 23
If it's the island thing you're going for, there's anderson island (quite pretty) with regular ferry service to Steilacom (short drive from Tacoma)
08-22-2008, 06:50 AM
21 posts, read
46,417 times
Reputation: 15
There was a post in another thread that gave a link to WDOT real time traffic flow maps. I 'watch' them twice a week at the times my husband would be on the road (6:30am and 6:30pm) and it appears the traffic is always 'flowing'. Mercer Island was our first choice because of the middle/high school. This coupled with residents of MI being able to drive in the HOV lanes on the I-90 bridge seemed to be a possibility.
From what I have read so far, it seems like it is not
. What is the the morning southbound I-5 traffic between 6:30am-7am and the evening northbound traffic on I-5 between 6:15pm - 7pm really like?
If I concentrate on living around Tacoma, let's say NE Tacoma/Proctor/University Place/Gig Harbor, can anyone comment on the middle & high schools?
This is a great forum -so helpful! Thank you!
Please register City-data.com
Data:
Median household income ($)
Median household income (% change since 2000)
Median family income ($)
Median family income (% change since 2000)
Median non-family income ($)
Median non-family income (% change since 2000)
Median per capita income ($)
Median per capita income (% change since 2000)
Median resident age
Median resident age - Males
Median resident age - Females
Unemployment (%)
Unemployment (% change since 2000)
Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes)
Population density (people per square mile)
Household density (households per square mile)
Population - Males (%)
Population - Females (%)
Population in households (%)
Average household size
Family households (%)
Nonfamily households (%)
Family households with own children (%)
Households with people 60 years and over (%)
Households with people 65 years and over (%)
Households with people 75 years and over (%)
Households with one or more nonrelatives (%)
Households with no nonrelatives (%)
Population in families (%)
Average family size
Occupied housing units (%)
Vacant housing units (%)
Owner occupied housing units (%)
Renter occupied housing units (%)
Marital status - Never married (%)
Marital status - Now married (%)
Marital status - Separated (%)
Marital status - Widowed (%)
Marital status - Divorced (%)
Likely homosexual households (%)
Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000)
Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%)
Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000)
Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%)
Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000)
Races - White alone (%)
Races - White alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Black alone (%)
Races - Black alone (% change since 2000)
Races - American Indian alone (%)
Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Asian alone (%)
Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Hispanic (%)
Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000)
Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%)
Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000)
Races - Two or more races(%)
Races - Two or more races(% change since 2000)
Races - Other race alone (%)
Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000)
Median house or condo value ($)
Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($)
Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($)
Median contract rent ($)
Median gross rent ($)
Median monthly housing costs ($)
Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($)
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($)
Houses occupied (%)
Houses owner occupied (%)
Houses renter occupied (%)
Mortgage status - with mortgage (%)
Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%)
Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%)
Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%)
Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%)
Median year house/condo built
Median year apartment built
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
Median number of rooms in apartments
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
Renter moved in on average (years ago)
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%)
Vacancy status - For rent (%)
Vacancy status - For sale only (%)
Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%)
Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%)
Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%)
Vacancy status - Other vacant (%)
Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%)
Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%)
Housing units in structures - 2 (%)
Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%)
Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%)
Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%)
Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%)
Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%)
Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%)
Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%)
Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%)
Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%)
Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%)
Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%)
Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%)
Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%)
Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%)
Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%)
Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%)
Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%)
Residents speaking English at home (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%)
Residents speaking other language at home (%)
Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%)
Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%)
Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%)
Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%)
Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%)
Residents with income below the poverty level (%)
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%)
Children below poverty level (%)
Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%)
Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%)
Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%)
Poverty status for native-born residents (%)
Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%)
Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%)
Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%)
Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%)
Place of birth - Born in other state (%)
Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%)
Place of birth - Foreign born (%)
People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%)
People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%)
People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%)
People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%)
People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%)
People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%)
People in Group quarters - State prisons (%)
People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%)
People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%)
People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%)
People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%)
People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%)
People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%)
People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%)
People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%)
People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%)
People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%)
People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%)
People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%)
People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%)
People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%)
People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%)
People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%)
People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%)
People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%)
People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%)
People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%)
People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%)
People in Group quarters - On base (%)
People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer) (%)
People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%)
People in Group quarters - Military ships (%)
People in Group quarters - Group homes (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%)
People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%)
People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%)
People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%)
People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%)
People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%)
People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%)
People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%)
People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%)
People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%)
People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%)
Ancestries Reported - Arab (%)
Ancestries Reported - Czech (%)
Ancestries Reported - Danish (%)
Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%)
Ancestries Reported - English (%)
Ancestries Reported - French (%)
Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%)
Ancestries Reported - German (%)
Ancestries Reported - Greek (%)
Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%)
Ancestries Reported - Irish (%)
Ancestries Reported - Italian (%)
Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%)
Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%)
Ancestries Reported - Polish (%)
Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%)
Ancestries Reported - Russian (%)
Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%)
Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%)
Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%)
Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%)
Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%)
Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%)
Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%)
Ancestries Reported - United States (%)
Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%)
Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%)
Ancestries Reported - Other (%)
Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%)
Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%)
Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%)
Common Industries - Construction (%)
Common Industries - Manufacturing (%)
Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%)
Common Industries - Retail trade (%)
Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%)
Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%)
Common Industries - Utilities (%)
Common Industries - Information (%)
Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%)
Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%)
Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%)
Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%)
Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%)
Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%)
Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%)
Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%)
Common Industries - Educational services (%)
Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%)
Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%)
Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%)
Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%)
Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%)
Common Industries - Public administration (%)
Common Occupations - Management, professional, and related occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Management occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Professional and related occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Community and social services occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%)
Common Occupations - Service occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers(%)
Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%)
Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Construction, extraction, maintenance, and repair occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Production occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Transportation and material moving occupations (%)
Common Occupations - Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers(%)
Common Occupations - Motor vehicle operators (%)
Common Occupations - Material moving workers (%)
Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%)
Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%)
Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%)
Class of Workers - Local government workers (%)
Class of Workers - State government workers (%)
Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%)
Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%)
Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%)
Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%)
Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%)
Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%)
Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%)
Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%)
Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%)
Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%)
Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%)
Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%)
Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%)
Means of transportation to work - Walked (%)
Means of transportation to work - Other means (%)
Working at home (%)
Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%)
Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%)
Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%)
Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%)
Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%)
Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%)
Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%)
Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%)
Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%)
Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%)
School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%)
School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%)
School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%)
School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%)
School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%)
School Enrollment - College undergrad (%)
School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%)
School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%)
Houses
Urban houses (%)
Rural houses (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%)
House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%)
House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%)
Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%)
Armed forces status - Civilian (%)
Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%)
Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%)
Median household income ($) - White
Median household income ($) - Black or African American
Median household income ($) - Asian
Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino
Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Median household income ($) - Multirace
Median household income ($) - Other
Median family income ($) - White
Median family income ($) - Black or African American
Median family income ($) - Asian
Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino
Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Median family income ($) - Multirace
Median family income ($) - Other
Unemployment (%) - White
Unemployment (%) - Black or African American
Unemployment (%) - Asian
Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino
Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Unemployment (%) - Multirace
Unemployment (%) - Other
Median house or condo value ($) - White
Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American
Median house or condo value ($) - Asian
Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino
Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace
Median house or condo value ($) - Other
Population - Males (%) - White
Population - Males (%) - Black or African American
Population - Males (%) - Asian
Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino
Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Population - Males (%) - Multirace
Population - Males (%) - Other
Population - Females (%) - White
Population - Females (%) - Black or African American
Population - Females (%) - Asian
Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino
Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Population - Females (%) - Multirace
Population - Females (%) - Other
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace
Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other
Median resident age - White
Median resident age - Black or African American
Median resident age - Asian
Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino
Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native
Median resident age - Multirace
Median resident age - Other
Median resident age - Males - White
Median resident age - Males - Black or African American
Median resident age - Males - Asian
Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino
Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native
Median resident age - Males - Multirace
Median resident age - Males - Other
Median resident age - Females - White
Median resident age - Females - Black or African American
Median resident age - Females - Asian
Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino
Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native
Median resident age - Females - Multirace
Median resident age - Females - Other
Average household size - White
Average household size - Black or African American
Average household size - Asian
Average household size - Hispanic or Latino
Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native
Average household size - Multirace
Average household size - Other
Average family size - White
Average family size - Black or African American
Average family size - Asian
Average family size - Hispanic or Latino
Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native
Average family size - Multirace
Average family size - Other
Similar Threads
Anyone live on Mercer Island and NOT like it? , Seattle area, 30 replies
Live on Mercer Island: To buy or not to buy a car? , Seattle area, 22 replies
Work in Seattle, School in Mercer Island , Seattle area, 5 replies
Commute from Mercer Island to Tacoma , Seattle area, 0 replies
Mercer Island , Seattle area, 5 replies
work in redmond, school on mercer island.... house where? , Seattle area, 19 replies
View detailed profiles of: 
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. Can anyone comment on what the realities of 'working in Tacoma and living in the north western section of Mercer Island' would be? I think this would involve leaving for Tacoma around 6:30am and heading home after 6pm. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!
. What is the the morning southbound I-5 traffic between 6:30am-7am and the evening northbound traffic on I-5 between 6:15pm - 7pm really like? 
