For two consecutive years, Seattle Magazine has ranked Mercer Island as the number one suburban neighborhood out of 50 Seattle-area neighborhoods. The ranking is based on 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.”

In the overall rankings of both urban and suburban neighborhoods, Mercer Island ranks fifth, up from 10th in 2008. Mercer Island lost 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, according to Seattle Magazine. Other top suburban neighborhoods include Redmond, Kenmore, Sammamish and Bellevue.

For more information, see the August 2009 edition of Seattle Magazine or go to www.seattlemag.com.