Living in renton (Seattle, Kent, Burien: apartment complex, to rent, townhome)

[tinaque]

I just got offered a position in Renton. I will be moving from Las Vegas and don't know much of the area. How is it to live there? How are the schools? I have a 4 and 8 year old. Are there family friendly things to do? Right now we will be renting an apartment but would like to purchase a home in the near future. What is the median rent for a 3 bedroom apartment? What part of Renton would be best to look for a place? North, south, etc?

Thank you in advance for the responses.

[VeronikaW]

The schools in Renton are a mixed bag. There are some good ones and some terrible ones. My husband and I almost bought a house in Renton that we fell in love with, until we researched the school we'd be assigned to. Some parts of Renton are in the Issaquah school district (which is one of the best), but that part of Renton is pricier (but cheaper than Issaquah proper). The websites I use to research schools are School Digger, Seattle Times School Guide and Great Schools. This might help you find good schools.

You can also go to the Renton School District site and see the Boundary Maps so if you find a home or apartment you like, you can see what school they'd be assigned to, and then look up that school on the other sites I mentioned.

I currently live in Issaquah, and our rent for a 3 bedroom townhome is around $1750/month. I'm not really sure what prices are like in Renton, I'm thinking they might be a little less.

Good luck.

V. =)

[grastus]

There's a big apartment complex literally 100 feet from the Boeing Renton Factory. If that's the place you got a job, I'd look into it haha.

[JustCallMeTC]

Ahh the home of Big Hair.

[Ira500]

Renton is fine for the most part. As Veronika said, the schools are a mixed bag. There are plenty of family friendly things to do in Renton. There are lots of nice parks, a busy community center with all kinds of classes, the south end of Lake Washington is in Renton and has canoeing and kayaking, and the Cedar River is in Renton, where the salmon are currently swimming upstream. There's plenty of shopping and nice restaurants. I wouldn't necessarily stay away from the Renton school district, but I might stay away from certain schools like Campbell Hill Elementary.
I don't know for sure, but I think the median rent for a 3 bd apt would be in the neighborhood of 1300-1400. Some good neighborhoods include the east part of the Renton Highlands, Kennydale, and Fairwood...Earlington is another nice neighbohood, but some parts of that neighborhood ( my neighborhood!)are assigned to lesser schools.

[69husky400]

I would either rent in Renton Highlands (East side of Lake Washington), Newcastle/Newport hills, Factoria or go West to Burien. I would stay away from downtown Renton, Skyway or Tukwila. Just MHO.

[MichaelinWA]

Those apartments look pretty nice, but I don't think that either of the two complexes there have 3-bedroom units. If I were renting an apartment, I'd probably look at newer complexes on Lake Washington Blvd, downtown Renton and (if 2 bedrooms are sufficient), the Landing.

Originally Posted by grastus

There's a big apartment complex literally 100 feet from the Boeing Renton Factory. If that's the place you got a job, I'd look into it haha.

[newcastle12]

For a children that are in the 4-8 year range and beginning school, You need to move into the east renton Highlands in the Issaquah School District. The price is usually 50 thousand more then a home in the RSD....but I believe it pays off.

[SeattleCat]

Hi, I taught in Renton for 6 years and am going to move back this year. I am looking at houses in the Renton highlands and east Renton in the Issaquah district. I have two kids almost identical to yours in age and I am partly moving back because I think the schools are very good there and the properties right now have come down enough for a teacher to affford a home. The only reason I left several years ago was that I could not afford a decent home in Renton but I think it is a great area for kids. Anyways, I would recommend the following highlands schools in the Renton district.

Hazelwood
Kennydale
Sierra Heights
Maplewood Heights

The middle school (McKnight) and high school (Hazen) are quite good. I have many friends with kids in both schools, as well as former students, and I rarely hear anything bad about them.

All of the Issaquah district schools are very good. You can't go wrong there.

Good luck!

[SeattleCat]

One more thing I forgot to add. Much of the Fairwood neighborhood, which is a few miles south of the highlands, actually falls into the Kent School District even though you will have a Renton address. It will be a bit cheaper for you to rent there and the Kent elementary schools in the Fairwood area are all very good, especially Lake Youngs and Carriage Crest.