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 Linda Thomas
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The richest retirees in the U.S. live here

July 31, 2012 @ 2:09 pm (Updated: 2:20 pm - 7/31/12 )

Where do the richest retirees in the U.S. live? Medina? No, but close. The richest retirees in America are in Hunts Point, according to Bloomberg news, which marvels that people would want to retire there instead of Florida considering the Eastside city has more than 150 days of rain.

HuntsPointHunts Point, population 429, is home to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal. Sinegal hosted President Barack Obama's private fundraiser last week. It also has a lot of other rich people.

The community had an average household retirement income of $200,431 in 2010.

That makes Hunt Point number one in Bloomberg's list of list of 37 places with the wealthiest older residents. About 21 percent of residents are 65 or older there.

Based on U.S. Census Bureau data, the Hunts Point retirement income is nine times the national average.

The wealthy community was founded by a Leigh S. J. Hunt, a resident of nearby Yarrow Point, who acquired property in what would become his namesake city in 1870. HistoryLink.org says he bought the property so he could cut down the tall evergreen trees which obstructed views of Lake Washington.

Today, Hunts Point still has great views and larger properties than many cities. Almost half of the homes have at least an acre on Lake Washington. The median home value is a sweet $1 million.

Photo courtesy Zillow.com of a lovely Hunts Point home currently for sale, listed at $13.8 million.

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Comments (12)


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  • CH wrote...
    Here you go CH . . . .
    July 31, 2012 2:15 pm
    panhandle at Hunts Point. How to Panhandle http://www.wikihow.com/Panhandle
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Not knocking them
    July 31, 2012 2:22 pm
    But many of these folks are Barak Hussian Obama's pals and yet he such a hypocrite that he believe's they don't pay their fare share in taxes. That's got to be awkward. Asking for money from the people you despise....I guess it's easy to look the other way when they're all giving you millions for your re-election. Too bad it's not gonna be enough.
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  • Forrest wrote...
    @ Maplefish
    July 31, 2012 3:45 pm
    I don't believe that Obama despises them as you state. A few of the wealthy, including Gates and Buffett, believe (and they are correct) that they pay a smaller percentage of their income in taxes than the people that work for them. They along with Obama believe that is inequitable.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Well Then, Forrest
    July 31, 2012 4:42 pm
    They are more than WELCOME to pay more. There is nothing stopping them. RIch folks ALREADY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE! Those of us who have worked hard, made good life choices, built successful businesses, made good investments and have achieved a good income already pay over 60% in taxes. Why should we be forced to continue to pay more? Obama is a HYPOCRITE and an Arrogant idiot!
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Forrest, if Buffett thinks he's pating less than the people who work for him, all he has to do is
    July 31, 2012 5:44 pm
    STOP USING every bloody loophole his lawyers and CPAs can find. Or would that result in too much unemployment for lawyers?

    At least Bill Gates spends his money on worthy causes. But too many of the 'progressive' rich wouldn't give a dime more than they have too - and think they must be TAXED to help people.

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  • mihalyim wrote...
    paying IRS
    July 31, 2012 8:13 pm
    Both of them are welcome to send more of their income to the IRS if they so choose...but instead they take every deduction that they can to pay as little as possible.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeddite wrote...
    HELP, HELP
    July 31, 2012 5:28 pm
    I PAY TAX ACCOUNTANTS AND LAWYERS TO MINIMIZE MY TAX BURDEN. But put me in front of a camera and I'll turn on the crocodile-tears and cry about how terrible it is that people who cant afford tax accountants/lawyers pay more than I do because they dont have the funds to afford assistance in squeazling through Americaland's "for oligarchs, by oligarchs" tax system.
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  • CH wrote...
    Bill Law are you talking about . . . .
    July 31, 2012 6:55 pm
    Mittens?
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Here in WA?
    August 1, 2012 5:59 am
    The ONE PERCENTERS!

    That the reason the Dear Leader keeps coming here? For their money for a failed re immaculation attempt?

    This regime has squandered our stolen tax dollars in their desperate attempts to remain in power in our nation.

    Yep! You can blame that one on Romney!

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  • borosnw wrote...
    Obama 2012
    August 1, 2012 6:45 am
    Seeing some of the posters here make me appreciate how much President Obama means to this country. Thank you Mr. President for fighting for the majority. Thank you for the Affordale Healthcare Act, although that will not change our family life but I know it will help many many others. Warren Buffet had already declared way back that the rich had won the war on fairness many years/decades ago. Fortunately, there are many sensible rich people in this country that are sided with Obama, Buffet, and Gates. One last thing, the argument about volunteering sending the money directly to Uncle Sam is getting old. Even if Mr. Buffet and Bill Gate decided to send everything they have to the government will not make that much impact. We need the 10% to do more. YES, the top 10% earners.
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Pay More?
    August 1, 2012 11:38 am
    So Obama can continue to piss it away? I think not. I already pay more than my fair share. I am really tired of being painted as evil by our current administration and our President because I have been successful. And like most people I know, also donate generously to various charities. To Democrats there is NEVER enough money and I am sick of it.
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