Renton (Seattle, Bellevue, Tukwila: apartment, to rent, hotel)

[blinky]

I have read on Renton but would like some current feedback on area. Went thru there a couple weeks ago and thought it looked pretty nice. The south end of Renton.
Looking at maybe my 2 girls could go to Liberty High School.

It looks like it has trees and green. We are relocating from Goodyear, AZ and its very brown.

I appreciate any help

[Ira500]

I live in the Renton School District. Hazen and Liberty are considered the better Renton High Schools, Renton High School considered not as good.
I like Renton. You might get feedback from people about how Renton is dangerous and unsophisticated, but I think that's mostly based on old information...Right downtown around the transit center is loitering and maybe gang activity, especially late at night, but most of Renton is just fine...Nice parks, lower cost housing, convenient to both Bellevue and Seattle, good restaurants...Lack of sophistication? Well, it's getting there, but I always viewed it's lack of sophistication as part of it's charm...Until recently, it was always viewed as solid working class, now it has some higher end folks as well.

[MichaelinWA]

We live in an area generally known as East Renton, although we are technically in unincorporated King County.

I basically agree with Ira - Renton still has some not-so-nice areas, as most larger towns do, but a lot of the opinions you'll read on this forum are based on very broad generalizations and old stereotypes. Our particular neighborhood is a new, relatively affluent one, and the city has a mix of decent areas to choose from. Some of the adjoining towns are said to have better schools, and I read recently that Hazen is bursting at the seams, due to all the new development in the Highlands.

[CityGirl72]

I hear there are nice parts to Renton. Renton is known as the more affordable area of King County

If you have the money there are some nicer neighborhoods with better schools, but that does not mean that Renton is a bad choice.

[The A-Team]

Personally i like Renton. We lived in Renton for a couple months when we first moved here in a hotel until we could find an apartment in Seattle. Even now, two and a half years later, I find myself going to Renton often, and for about the first year i went everyday from everything from eating out, to grocery shopping etc. Renton is a little more gritty i guess is the right word than a lot of king county, and you will see some questionable people occasionly and perhaps there is a little gang activity. I have also seen hookers getting arrested near the boeing plant lol. Even though this may be the case, and some of the neightborhoods may not be as nice as say, West Seattle, I still like Renton. I have met a lot of nice people from Renton, has some great places to eat (King Buffet, Ono teriyaki etc) and just always enjoyed the feel there. I've spent lots of time there at night, and i have had some very weird people come up to me and ask me for a ride at the gas station, and they were very persistant, but nothing bad happened. It may not be as fancy as much of King County, but i like Renton and would not hate living there! Of course, access to seattle is easy and Southcenter(in Tukwila) is ajacent to Renton, a few minutes drive from downtown Renton, which has the Southcenter mall, an awesome gamestop, a very nice bowling alley with an awesome arcade, Silver platters(the best chain of cd stores in the world, all of which located in the seattle area!), Best buy, Petsmart, Lots of nice resturaunts(Rainforest cafe which is in the mall, Azteca, Red Robin, Tony Roma's, Olive Garden, etc), and much more! Hope this helps! Feel free to msg me with any questions!