Best for affordability: Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island, Washington looks like the easiest place here to live with less financial drag. It comes out ahead on rent burden and tax burden.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Mercer Island vs Portland on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 1 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.
Mercer IslandPortland
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island, Washington is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on climate comfort, weaker on sunshine.
Potential dealbreaker: Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island, Washington needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on home prices.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 25,042 | 652,503 |
| Population Density | N/A | 4.8k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 335 ft(102 m) | 39 ft(12 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $2,232,686 | $516,539 |
| Median Rent | $2,523 | $1,722 |
| Median Income | $190,985 | $71,498 |
| Rent Burden | 16% | 29% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 250 days/yr | 262 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 59°F | 63°F |
| Comfort Score | 76/100Great | 73/100Great |
| Temp Swing | 31°F | 39°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 49"(124 cm) | 56"(142 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 6"(15 cm) | 7"(18 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 37 (Avg)1 days > 100 | AQI 32 (Avg)1 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 44 | 65 |
| Transit Score | 23 | 93 |
| Safety Score | 84 / 100 | 55 / 100 |
| School Rating | 9.2/10 | 5.9/10 |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 31%Cable: 99% | Fiber: 76%Cable: 99% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 45.3 years | 38.3 years |
| College Educated | 78% | 53% |
| Remote Workers | 30% | 22% |
| Nature Access | ||
| Local Nature & Reserves | Finding... | Finding... |
| Scouting & Local Help | ||
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner. | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Mercer Island | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Portland |
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