The typical owner-occupied home in Mercer Island is worth about $2,000,001, 3.5 times the Washington median of $564,600 and 6.0 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 0.50% of their home's value, lower than the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $219,069 a year, so the median home costs 9.1 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Mercer Island at a glance
| Mercer Island | Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $10,001 | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.50% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $219,069 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 67% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 59% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $4,001 | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.1% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,502 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 27.3% | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1973 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.1% | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 25,307 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Mercer Island
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Mercer Island home of $2,000,001 with 20% down costs about $12,430 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $16,083, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $532,713 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 68% of the median Mercer Island household income of $219,069; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $822,000.
The median rent here is $2,502 a month, so owning the median home costs about $9,928 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $400,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,600,001 |
| Principal and interest | $10,763 |
| Property taxes (0.50% a year) | $833 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $833 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $12,430 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $70,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,963,776 |
| Principal and interest | $13,210 |
| Property taxes (0.50% a year) | $833 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $833 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $1,206 |
| Total per month | $16,083 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Mercer Island
What is the median home value in Mercer Island?
About $2,000,001 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Mercer Island?
Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 0.50% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Mercer Island?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $12,430 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $532,713 a year.
More about Mercer Island
- Mortgage Refinance in Mercer Island
- Debt Relief in Mercer Island
- Home Equity Loans in Mercer Island
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data