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Living in
East Renton Highlands.
East Renton Highlands is an unincorporated community in King County, WA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in East Renton Highlands
East Renton Highlands is a community of 12,241 people in Washington. The median household income is $142,500, median rent runs about $2,697 per month, and median home values are around $778,700. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.
East Renton Highlands at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Foreign-Born
8.4%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.4% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in East Renton Highlands: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Renton Highlands, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (21.9%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.0%
of households
Married Couples
68.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.88
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 54% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in East Renton Highlands
In East Renton Highlands, rent runs 54% above the WA average, and home values are 38% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
42.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,220
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
90.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.9%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in East Renton Highlands and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in King County, which includes East Renton Highlands, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
East Renton Highlands: King County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
King County (county-wide) · Annual averages
East Renton Highlands is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What East Renton Highlands Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute31.9 min avg
How East Renton Highlands residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Renton Highlands, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI)
Regional airport · few flights31k passengers boarded in 2025
- 11 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the King County Sheriff's Office, which covers East Renton Highlands, runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
166.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
984.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by King County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
King County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In King County, which includes East Renton Highlands, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Heavy Rain | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $474,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
29 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
East Renton Highlands is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes East Renton Highlands, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
King County, county-wide
East Renton Highlands is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Renton Highlands has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
6.3"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
30
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
153
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 37°F | 4.93" |
| Feb | 50°F | 37°F | 3.21" |
| Mar | 55°F | 40°F | 3.74" |
| Apr | 60°F | 43°F | 2.83" |
| May | 66°F | 49°F | 1.86" |
| Jun | 71°F | 54°F | 1.47" |
| Jul | 77°F | 58°F | 0.60" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.89" |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 1.53" |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 52°F | 40°F | 5.61" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 4.53" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Renton Highlands
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside East Renton Highlands's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Swedish Issaquah
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Issaquah
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Renton
Multicare Covington Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.6 mi away · Covington
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Renton Highlands
East Renton Highlands's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 43.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Renton Highlands (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,364 students · in-state tuition $4,580 · 48% graduate · median earnings $63,508 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,965 students · in-state tuition $5,172 · 47% graduate · median earnings $54,621 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,062 students · in-state tuition $58,965 · 74% graduate · median earnings $84,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,953 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 42% graduate · median earnings $48,906 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
DigiPen Institute of Technology
14.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 995 students · in-state tuition $40,070 · 58% graduate · median earnings $80,038 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Renton Highlands
East Renton Highlands has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
14 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
47 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
58 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
77 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
84 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
94 mi awayCities Near East Renton Highlands
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Renton Highlands?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Renton Highlands FAQ
Is East Renton Highlands, Washington affordable?⌄
East Renton Highlands's median rent is $2,717/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $142,500/year. Median home value is $778,700.
Is East Renton Highlands, Washington safe?⌄
East Renton Highlands is policed by the King County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 985 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Renton Highlands, Washington?⌄
King County, which includes East Renton Highlands, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Renton Highlands, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in East Renton Highlands is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,717/month and median household income is $142,500/year. The median home value is $778,700. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Renton Highlands, Washington?⌄
The average commute in East Renton Highlands is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from