You’ve probably heard of the "Gold Coast," but in the Pacific Northwest, that term isn't about California. It refers to a tiny, leafy peninsula jutting into Lake Washington. Medina Washington is arguably the most famous zip code in the state, yet if you drove through it without looking at a map, you might miss it entirely. It’s quiet. Suspiciously quiet.
There are no towering neon signs or sprawling shopping malls here. Instead, you find narrow, winding lanes draped in evergreen canopies and massive gates that hint at the wealth hiding behind them. For decades, this has been the preferred hideout for the world’s richest tech titans. But beneath the surface of the "Billionaire’s Row" headlines, there’s a real town with a quirky history and a surprisingly fragile balance between its massive estates and its small-town identity.
Why Everyone is Obsessed with Medina Washington
Honestly, the fascination usually starts with the names. For a long time, Medina was the only place on earth where you could find the two richest men in the world—Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos—living just a few minutes apart. Gates’ famous estate, Xanadu 2.0, is a high-tech marvel that became the stuff of legend in the 90s. Bezos eventually followed suit, snapping up a massive waterfront compound.
But why here?
It isn't just about the lake views, though they are staggering. It’s about the "fortress" mentality that the geography provides. Medina is basically a peninsula. There are only a few ways in and out. The city famously uses a high-tech surveillance system that scans the license plates of every car entering the city limits. If you’re a high-profile executive, that kind of passive security is worth every penny of the astronomical property taxes.
The Real Estate Reality Check
If you’re looking to buy in Medina Washington today, bring a very large suitcase of cash. The median home price as of 2025 has hovered around $6 million, but that’s almost a meaningless number because "typical" homes don't really exist here. You have two-bedroom ramblers from the 1960s sitting on lots worth $3 million, right next to $50 million architectural masterpieces.
📖 Related: Why The Pioneer Woman Breakfast Sausage Casserole Is Still The Best Brunch Hack
In the 98039 zip code, you aren't just paying for the square footage. You’re paying for the 98039 digits. It’s consistently ranked as the most expensive place to live in the U.S. outside of California. Interestingly, the market has seen some "softening" lately—if you can call it that—with inventory finally creeping up as some of the old guard moves on.
A History of Dueling Signs and Strawberries
People think Medina was always this way, but it started as a humble collection of strawberry farms in the late 1800s. The name itself has a bit of a spicy backstory. Thomas Dabney, one of the first permanent settlers, wanted to name the town "Flordeline."
The local women hated it.
A group of three women—Flora Belote, Ruby Burke, and Eliza Geicker—voted him down. They chose "Medina," named after the holy city in Saudi Arabia. Legend says Dabney was so annoyed he kept putting up "Flordeline" signs at the ferry dock, and the locals would just swap them back to "Medina" under the cover of night. Eventually, Dabney gave up.
🔗 Read more: Why The Crown Braid On Black Hair Is Still The Best Protective Style You Aren't Wearing
One more thing: the pronunciation. If you want to sound like a local, don’t say "Me-dee-na." It’s "Me-dye-na."
The Infrastructure Struggle
Here’s a detail that usually shocks people: the city of Medina has actually struggled with its budget. You’d think a town full of billionaires would be flush with cash, but most of the city’s revenue comes from property taxes, which are capped by state law. Meanwhile, the cost of maintaining roads, police, and those fancy plate-reading cameras keeps going up.
It’s a weird paradox. You have some of the highest property values in the world, but the city government has to be incredibly frugal.
Living the Medina Lifestyle (If You Can Afford It)
What do people actually do here? Not much, and that’s the point.
The "downtown" is basically a post office, a grocery store (the Green Store), and a nursery. It’s the kind of place where you might see a tech mogul in a Patagonia vest buying a gallon of milk.
- The Schools: Medina Elementary is legendary. It’s a public school, but because of the local tax base and the intense involvement of parents, it functions like a top-tier private academy.
- The Golf: The Overlake Golf and Country Club is the social heart of the city. It’s private, exclusive, and occupies a massive chunk of the city’s interior.
- The Parks: Medina Beach Park is one of the few places where the general public can get a taste of the waterfront. It’s small, pristine, and offers a killer view of the Seattle skyline across the water.
What Most People Get Wrong About Medina
The biggest misconception is that Medina is a gated community. It’s not. It’s a public city. You can drive down Evergreen Point Road whenever you want. You just can’t see most of the houses because the hedges are twelve feet tall.
Another myth? That it's a "tech-only" town. While Microsoft and Amazon money built the modern version of Medina, there’s still a significant amount of "old money" from Seattle’s shipping, timber, and retail dynasties. This mix creates a specific social dynamic where privacy is the ultimate currency. If you’re the type who wants to be "seen," you go to Bellevue. If you want to be left alone, you stay in Medina.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re planning a visit or considering a move (congrats on the IPO!), here is how to navigate Medina Washington like a pro:
- Skip the "Star Tours": There are no tour buses for the billionaires’ houses. Most of the famous estates, including the Gates compound, are best seen from a boat on Lake Washington, not from the street.
- Respect the Speed Limit: The Medina police are famously vigilant. Because it’s such a small, quiet community, any car doing 30 in a 25 stands out like a sore thumb.
- Check the 520 Toll: Most access to Medina involves the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (SR 520). It’s a tolled bridge, and the rates vary by time of day. Make sure your Good To Go! pass is active.
- The "Green Store" is a Must: Even if you aren't a resident, stop by the Medina Grocery & Deli (the Green Store). It’s been around since 1908 and is the last vestige of the town's original character.
- Look Beyond the Waterfront: Some of the most interesting mid-century modern architecture is actually tucked away on the "inland" lots, away from the water.
Medina remains a fascinating experiment in American wealth. It’s a place that has fought hard to remain a "small town" while being home to people whose decisions change the world. It’s quiet, it’s expensive, and it’s arguably the most unique square mile in the entire United States.