In The 'Best' City In Washington, Median Income Is $128,484

MERCER ISLAND, WA - What's five miles long, surrounded by water, and has a median household income of about $130,000? It's Washington's best city, Mercer Island.

Money Magazine recently published its list of "best" cities in each state in America. Mercer Island was named best in Washington for its projected economic growth, community activities, great schools, and, yeah, that high median household income.

Here's what Money said about the island between Bellevue and Seattle:

Just over five miles long and two miles wide, the Mercer Island community is known for its affluent residential areas, preserved parks and nature, and miles of scenic shoreline. Located between Seattle and Bellevue on the southern portion of Lake Washington—and connected to the mainland on either side by floating bridges carrying Interstate 90—the island has a commercial hub and popular gathering spot in its town center, where islanders can enjoy events like the Mercer Island Farmers Market or Summer Celebration.

But back to that median household income. For context, King County's median household income was about $84,000 in 2016 (Snohomish came in No. 2 at about $78,000), and the state median was $65,500. Mercer Island even towers over its surrounding neighbors.

Renton's household median was estimated at $66,050 in 2o16. In Seattle the median was estimated at $80,000, Bellevue was $100,000, and – this is a stretch up Lake Washington – Kirkland was about $95,000.

But there are local cities that beat Mercer Island in the earnings category.

Medina, home of Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has a median of $182,000. Nearby Yarrow Point, with a population of just 1,000, has a median income of about $213,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

And Mercer Island's wealth has a chance to grow.

Although Mercer Island is known as a bedroom community, Money is projecting job growth of about 8 percent in the coming year on the island. That's modest growth among the other 49 cities on the list. Reston, Va., will only grow at about 3.4 percent, but St. Augustine, Fla., jobs will grow close to 20 percent.

Reduced HOV lane access or not, Mercer Island residents are pretty lucky.

Caption: Flying over Mercer Island in Seattle, the U.S.Navy Blue Angels perform during the airshow portion of Seafair unlimited hydroplane races on Lake Washington on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008.

Photo by Kevin P. Casey/Associated Press