Residential comparison · 13 facts
Issaquah, WA vs Mercer Island, WA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Issaquah needs about $85,500 in Mercer Island to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Mercer Island, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $84,500 in Issaquah.
A few differences
- Mercer Island is higher on median household income ($219,069 vs $154,669).
- Issaquah is lower on cost of living index (154 vs 218).
- Issaquah is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,533/mo vs $2,929/mo).
Issaquah vs Mercer Island · facet by facet
| Facet | Issaquah, WA | Mercer Island, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $963,000 | $2,000,001 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,533/mo | $2,929/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.87% | 0.87% |
| State & local income tax | 0% | 0% |
| Sales tax | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| Cost of living index | 154 | 218 |
| Groceries index | 106 | 106 |
| Utilities | $155/mo | $155/mo |
| Median household income | $154,669 | $219,069 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Crime index | 50/100 | 50/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 155 days | 155 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Issaquah, WA · Mercer Island, WA
Questions & answers
- Is Issaquah cheaper than Mercer Island?
- Issaquah has the lower day-to-day cost index (154 vs 218 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Mercer Island equals $85,000 in Issaquah?
- A household earning $85,000 in Issaquah needs about $85,500 in Mercer Island to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Mercer Island lifestyle costs about $84,500 in Issaquah.