The Town FilesEast Renton Highlands, Washington
Community in King County · population 11,937 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $778,700
- Household income
- $142,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.7
East Renton Highlands is a community of 11,937 people in King County, Washington. The median home is worth $778,700, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for families than 98% of Washington towns, more upscale than 84% of Washington towns, more of a college town than 80% of Washington towns.
How East Renton Highlands ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in East Renton Highlands is worth $778,700, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $142,500, which is more affordable than 44% of Washington towns. Median rent is $2,717 a month. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | East Renton Highlands | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $778,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $2,717 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $142,500 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in East Renton Highlands
| People | East Renton Highlands | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 25.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in East Renton Highlands
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 37.1°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.6 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 30 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Renton Highlands since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 28, 1962 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 1964.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 8, 1972.
Severe weather in King County since 1996
King County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 10, 2022 | Fire | FM-5455: Bolt Creek Fire |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in King County
King County had 1,449,785 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $132,279 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in East Renton Highlands itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Towns near East Renton Highlands
- Maple Heights-Lake Desire, WA2.6 mi · 3,873 people · home $876,200
- Fairwood, WA3.2 mi · 19,396 people · home $733,200
- Mirrormont, WA4.7 mi · 3,858 people · home $973,900
- Renton, WA5.0 mi · 106,785 people · home $672,600
- Issaquah, WA5.2 mi · 40,051 people · home $963,000
- Newcastle, WA5.4 mi · 13,017 people · home $1,205,600
- Hobart, WA5.8 mi · 6,767 people · home $950,300
- Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA7.3 mi · 17,397 people · home $655,200
East Renton Highlands questions
Is East Renton Highlands, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East Renton Highlands scores better for retirees than 48% of Washington towns and quieter than 43%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in East Renton Highlands?
The median owner-occupied home in East Renton Highlands is valued at $778,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $142,500, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $2,717 a month.
What is the weather like in East Renton Highlands?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 37.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 13.6 inches of snow.
Does East Renton Highlands get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Renton Highlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 28, 1962. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)