Renton or Lynnwood, and why? (Seattle, Bellevue: homes, school district, living in)

[ElektroDragon]

If you didn't know where you'd get a job, and you had to choose between living in Renton and living in north Lynnwood in between the 525 and I5 with Mukilteo schools, which would you choose... and why?

[Ira500]

Renton is closer to downtown Seattle, and there are also back roads from Renton to Bellevue, and Renton is more of a town in the traditional sense, with a kind of cool old downtown with interesting small shops and restaurants, and nearby hiking spots and woods.
But Mukilteo is a much better school district. Lynnwood has mostly struck me as soulless.

[CasusBelli]

I would choose Lynnwood. (what do you mean souless?)



Renton seems to have a bit more crime.

[Ira500]

I like places that have history and a variety in the age of homes. By soulless, I meant that Lynnwood has a lot of buildings and homes all built around the same time, and no discernible downtown. ......of course if the choice were between Lynnwood and Cleveland I'd happily choose Lynnwood.

[happiestever]

It depends on what industry you are looking in. I think the South (meaning Renton) might have more potential for a range of jobs - you could live in Renton and work in Kent or downtown or burien. In Lynnwood you would mostly be stuck with Lynnwood or Everett, and not much farther north than that. I like Lynnwood for living, but if I were going to go based on job opps I would choose Renton for sure.

[CasusBelli]

Originally Posted by happiestever

It depends on what industry you are looking in. I think the South (meaning Renton) might have more potential for a range of jobs - you could live in Renton and work in Kent or downtown or burien. In Lynnwood you would mostly be stuck with Lynnwood or Everett, and not much farther north than that. I like Lynnwood for living, but if I were going to go based on job opps I would choose Renton for sure.

why would you be stuck in Lynnwood or Everett?


Ever notice the buses coming down on I-5? They are all people going downtown to work.

[happiestever]

It's just my opinion. And I for one never really go past Everett because there isn't much to do or see besides a few farms and a lot of housing developments. Most people who live farther north seem to commute to seattle for work anyway. If you look at craigslist job postings you will see there are more positions in the south (in a majority of the fields). but the OP mentioned schools, the mukilteo district I am sure is better than the South.

[Redline]

What is considered downtown Renton?

[Ira500]

Downtown Renton:

Downtown Renton | City of Renton

But I consider downtown Renton really just a few blocks, mostly S 2nd, S 3rd, and South 4th streets.

[secret_squirrel]

Having lived in Lynnwood and now the south end (Auburn, working in Federal Way), I'd pick the north end in a heartbeat!! Mukilteo is an adorable small town on the water with quick freeway access to Alderwood Mall and I-5/I-405. The region is well served for transit to downtown Seattle, Canyon Park or Bellevue. I loved living in the north end. To me, it is much less industrial and feels cleaner and friendlier. Lynnwood itself is a strip mall city of no beauty, but the region as a whole has great access to parks on Puget Sound and the north Cascades are lovely.

Living in Alderwood Manor, on weekends I could be a Greenlake or access the Burke-Gilman trail in 15 minutes. Or pick up any supplies I needed in the shopping district in 5 minutes.