OK so I've been here for 19 years and With a population of 105K, Renton is a mid-size city. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. What do you all think? Cheers. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
37 upvotes
26 Replies
raised_peyton18
Saving this thread
40 upvotes
Hazel Gutierrez
I've lived in The Heights for about 1 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's exactly what I was looking for. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by weather. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Good healthcare facilities
- The walkability scene is decent
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for remote workers. Feel free to reach out with questions..
38 upvotes
Denise T.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is surprisingly good in most areas.
36 upvotes
Cameron Morales
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 13 years here, that's my honest assessment.
31 upvotes
Nova O.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The walkability is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Uptown) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
29 upvotes
Vivian Jones
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 11 years. Moved from Houston for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is improving - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Property taxes are high. Bugs and humidity in summer. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
29 upvotes
Stella Reed
Public transit is improving here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I have mixed feelings honestly.
27 upvotes
Dorothy W.
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Indian places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
27 upvotes
Isaac Martinez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Riverside for 2 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
finance is strong here. real estate is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's exactly what I was looking for. The outdoor scene is average - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Riverside schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited public transit options. Winters are long and cold. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 7/10. Happy to answer more specific questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
25 upvotes
Adeline
The food scene here is better than expected. Tons of great Mediterranean places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
23 upvotes
Judith T.
Public transit is surprisingly good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
21 upvotes
Avery R.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a project manager who relocated here from New York about 6 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and work.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Good healthcare facilities
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are stable, gas is solid.
Socially, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Hope this helps!.
20 upvotes
Jack Mendoza
The food scene here is surprisingly good. Tons of great sushi places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
20 upvotes
Carson Moore
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want traffic, then yeah this place is great. But if cost of living matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
18 upvotes
Wesley Robinson
I've lived in Fairview for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Boston, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The housing market scene is average
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for families. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Jackson F.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from San Diego about 5 years ago. The main reasons were work and family.
Pros I've experienced:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are manageable, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Aria G.
exactly what I was thinking
17 upvotes
Camila A.
glad someone said it
17 upvotes
Elena Rogers
following this thread
11 upvotes
Axel Cooper
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Meadowbrook area are excellent. Kids love it here.
9 upvotes
Jaxon Y.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is cultural scene. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
9 upvotes
Peyton Perez
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value walkability, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely underrated and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
7 upvotes
Isabelle M.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a chef who relocated here from Atlanta about 3 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good internet infrastructure
- Close to major attractions
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Rising rent and home prices
Financially, we've found it pretty good compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are stable, gas is improving.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
6 upvotes
Emilia
hard disagree but ok
4 upvotes
Reagan C.
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great BBQ places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
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