Mercer Island Named Top Suburban Neighborhood Two Years in a Row

For the second year in a row, Seattle Magazine ranked Mercer Island as the number one suburban neighborhood out of 50 Seattle-area suburban neighborhoods. Neighborhoods were ranked according to crime rates, parks, schools, commute distances and other factors. Mercer Island made it to the top of the list as a quiet, residential community with “great schools, big trees and pretty views.” Other top suburban neighborhoods include Redmond, Kenmore, Sammamish and Bellevue.

In the overall rankings of both urban and suburban neighborhoods, Mercer Island ranks fifth, up from tenth in 2008. Seattle Magazine explains that Mercer Island loses points only for affordability because of the high median home price, but “is ahead of all others in all quality-of-life categories” such as schools, crime, parks and commutes.

More information is available in the August 2009 edition of Seattle Magazine (on shelves now) and on the Seattle Magazine website.