Here’s Why You Should Consider Buying a Home in Renton

Where should you live if you’re feeling priced out of the home market in Seattle or Bellevue? We recommend buying a home in Renton! 

We’ve been writing about Renton for a long time now; it has been a great alternative to buying in Seattle and Bellevue for many years. This only becomes more and more true as home prices in Seattle and on the Eastside go up, up, up. 

Let’s take a moment to look at the numbers! Here are the stats of different cities for comparison (and all data is from March 2022, the most recent data available): 

Renton Median Home Price (all home types) = $780,000

• This is up 15.6% YOY 

Renton Single Family Homes = $825,000

Renton Townhouses = $769,950

Renton Condos = $367,500

Seattle Median Home Price (all home types) = $888,800

• This is up 18.3% YOY 

Seattle Single Family Homes = $1,127,500

Seattle Townhouses = $819,950

Seattle Condos = $495,000

Bellevue Median Home Price (all home types) = $1,635,000

• This is up 34.6% YOY 

Bellevue Single Family Homes = $2,275,000

Bellevue Townhouses = $985,000

Bellevue Condos = $698,500

As you can see, across the board, Renton’s home prices are significantly cheaper than what you’ll find in Seattle or on the Eastside. But don’t sleep on buying a home in Renton—home prices here are increasing quickly, too, as you can see from the YOY increase. 

Appreciation in Renton has been steady, too—check out the median home prices in Renton for the last few years: 

March 2017 = $440,000

March 2018 = $452,500

March 2019 = $525,000

March 2020 = $500,000 (Remember, this is the month Covid hit)

March 2021 = $675,000

March 2022 = $780,000

The median home price in Renton has almost doubled in just the last 6 years. 

Now that you know the stats, why should you consider living in Renton? 

One big reason is the commuting options. Many who commute into Seattle, Bellevue, or other cities on the Eastside will find that Renton is an ideal spot that provides great access to both I-5 and I-405. Let’s say you live in the Benson Hills area of Renton. From here, you’re only about 20 minutes into Downtown Seattle and 16 minutes into Downtown Bellevue (in good traffic). There are also several bus options and Park & Ride opportunities, too. 

There are also so many exciting things happening in Renton right now. In the past 10 or so years, The Landing was completed and started to thrive; this 21-acre retail center has become a popular destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, etc. 

Another exciting development has been the revitalization of Downtown Renton. There has been a major effort by the city in recent years to redo the streets, sidewalks, street lights, etc. to create a safer, more inviting environment for pedestrians. The city is also in the process of making major upgrades to water, sewer, and stormwater utilities to support future development needs in the downtown core. In the meantime, Downtown Renton is already a fun place to visit! Grab food at several popular restaurants, browse cute shops, enjoy a picnic at one of the adorable parks, and more.