Renton, WA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Renton, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Renton →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Renton, Washington runs approximately 105,355. Median household income sits at $92,292, landing above the benchmark median we track across cities (+28%).
For renters and buyers alike, Renton offers a median home value of $576,800 (above the tracked median, +77%) and median rent of $1,864 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
Home values running about 6.2× median income put Renton on the stretched end of the affordability spectrum among cities we cover. The local housing market has held steady, with prices up only 0.89% over the past year. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Renton runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Very High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,864/mo in Renton would take 24.2% of your income.
$443/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($576,800) would take 40.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$926/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Renton
Median home value is $576,800 and median gross rent is $1,864/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for King rose 0.89% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,501/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Renton's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Renton reported a violent crime rate of 258.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Renton
Planning a move to Renton? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Renton, WA?
- Renton's key cost-of-living figures: $576,800 median home value, $1,864 median monthly rent, and $92,292 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Renton?
- Comfortably affording rent in Renton — where the median runs $1,864/month — typically means earning about $74,560 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Renton.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Renton?
- Renting in Renton at the median $1,864/month calls for about $74,560 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $576,800 takes roughly $131,969 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Renton safe?
- In 2025, Renton reported 258.4 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Renton →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Renton's.