The listing photos are not the lifestyle. choose the area that fits your ordinary week, not the one that sounds best in a relocation group. Around Mercer Island, Washington, housing prices and rainy-day routines can matter more than people expect. Drive the route at the real commute time, then visit the grocery store, park, school area, and coffee shop you think you will actually use. The best neighborhood is usually the one that makes Tuesday easier, not Saturday prettier.