Renton, WA Local Data & Statistics

State: WA

Total population: 105,317 Household income: $100,432 Rent: $1,998

Overview

Total population

105,317

Rent

$1,998

Year built

1988

Household income

$100,432

Per capita income

$51,528

Poverty rate

8.1%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

Total population

105,317

Adults over 25

74,990

Total households

40,672

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$100,432

Per capita income

$51,528

Poverty rate

8.1%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Rent over 30% of income

52.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,998

Year built

1988

Households that rent

45.6%

Households that own

54.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

41.2%

Black

9.2%

Asian

26.5%

Two or more races

14.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

15.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

84.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

78.3%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

21.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

28.5%

High school graduate or GED

20.3%

Some college or associate degree

11.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Renton, WA with: Washington State United States

Renton, WA

Total population105,317

Rent$1,998

Year built1988

Household income$100,432

Per capita income$51,528

Poverty rate8.1%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityRenton, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	105,317	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$1,998	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1988	1985	1980
Household income	$100,432	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$51,528	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	8.1%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Renton, WA, Washington and United States →

Summary for Renton, WA

Renton is located in Washington.

Rent & Income

In Renton, the typical monthly rent is $1,998 and the typical household income is $100,432. Rent here is higher than both Washington and the U.S., and household income is similar to Washington and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 8.1%, which is lower than in both Washington and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 45.6% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 52.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 39.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is lower than both Washington and the national rate.

Renton, WA — Rent vs Household Income

Renton, WA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Renton, WA compares in Washington State (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,998	20 / 25	from lower rent	$1,117 – $2,857
Household income	$100,432	8 / 25	from higher income	$62,815 – $239,690
Poverty rate	8.1%	5 / 25	from lower poverty	4.3% – 18.6%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	7 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 6.8%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Washington State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Renton, WA

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Renton places 20th among 25 large places in Washington. Across the state, rents run from $1,117 in Yakima, WA up to $2,857 in Sammamish, WA.

Household income

For median household income, Renton is ranked 8th out of 25 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $62,815 in Yakima, WA to $239,690 in Sammamish, WA.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Renton in 5th place among 25 significant areas. Across Washington, poverty ranges between 4.3% and 18.6%.

Unemployment rate

Renton places 7th among 25 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.8% to 6.8%.

💰 Rent in Renton, WA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,998 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Renton, WA

Annual Household Income: $100,432

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Renton, WA

Estimated Rate: 8.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Renton, WA

In Renton, WA, households that rent: 18,566 (45.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	18,566	45.6%
Owner-Occupied	22,106	54.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Renton, WA

In Renton, WA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,780 (52.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,780	52.7%
Other renter households	8,786	47.3%
Total renter households	18,566	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Renton, WA

Less than High School: 21,336 people (28.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 15,247 people (20.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 8,822 people (11.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 29,585 people (39.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 74,990

📊 Unemployment Rate in Renton, WA

Estimated Rate: 3.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Spokane Valley, WA105,460 Burbank, CA105,165 Brockton, MA105,080 Inglewood, CA105,575 El Cajon, CA104,909 Jurupa Valley, CA106,244 Boulder, CO106,274 Nampa, ID106,289 Davie, FL106,412 Concord, NC106,518

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.