Renton
Highlands
Renton's big family district — parks, a new library, real value.
On the map
Boundary is approximate — refined per neighborhood over time.
Pacific Relocation's take
The most house-and-yard you can rent inside Renton for the money.
The Highlands is Renton's largest family district, a sprawl of mid-century subdivisions and garden apartments east of downtown that rents below the city average and has actually softened over the past year. This is our value-and-space answer: clients who need three bedrooms, a yard, and a parking pad without paying Eastside numbers consistently land here. The Sunset-area redevelopment gave the western edge a genuine lift — the 2016 Highlands Library, new Sunset park, and rebuilt housing — and the Sunset Boulevard corridor is one of Renton's most internationally diverse retail strips. Schools rate mid across the district, so set expectations there, but parks, the rec center, and the library make it a practical place to raise kids on a budget. The trade-off is car dependence and a long-ish commute into Seattle or Bellevue; transit exists but is not frequent. With prices flat-to-down and inventory the deepest of our five Renton picks, families have room to compare and negotiate.
Lifestyle figures
Best of Highlands for you
Family-friendly
- Renton Highlands Library0.5 km
Bright 2016 KCLS branch at the heart of the redeveloped Sunset area — story times, meeting rooms, and a community hub.
- Highlands Neighborhood Center0.6 km
City rec center with gym, classes, and summer camps anchoring family life in the district.
Directions ↗Pinned on map
Outdoors / hiking / parks
- Highlands Park0.6 km
Large neighborhood park with ballfields, playground, and open lawn beside the rec center.
Directions ↗Pinned on map - Honey Dew / Kiwanis Park trails0.9 km
Wooded pocket parks and walking paths threaded through the residential blocks.
Diverse / multilingual
- Sunset Highlands shopping (NE Sunset Blvd)0.7 km
International groceries, pho, halal, and Latin kitchens along the Sunset corridor reflect the district's mix.
- Sunset Neighborhood Park0.4 km
Newer park built in the Sunset redevelopment with a popular spray-and-play area for kids.
Directions ↗Pinned on map
To buy (USD)
| Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | 320,000 | 390,000 | 500,000 |
| 2 BR | 380,000 | 465,000 | 595,000 |
| 3 BR | 490,000 | 595,000 | 760,000 |
Estimated from local rents — placeholder, pending verified sale data.
Rent ranges (USD)
| Type | Low | Median | High | Δ 12mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | 1,500 | 1,720 | 1,950 | ↓ 2.0% |
| 2 BR | 1,800 | 2,050 | 2,400 | ↓ 2.5% |
| 3 BR | 2,300 | 2,600 | 3,000 | ↓ 3.0% |
Source: Rentals.ca + Zumper Q1 2026, refreshed weekly via our rent worker.
Our advice
Before you sign a lease
- The district is large and uneven block to block — a great street can sit near a tired complex, so tour the specific unit and its immediate neighbors
- Many garden apartments date to the 1960s–80s with electric heat and older windows; ask about insulation and winter power bills
- Some 'Highlands' single-family rentals are individually owned with variable upkeep — document condition and confirm who handles yard and repairs
Pacific Relocation
Want our help finding a place here?
Book a free 30-min Discovery Call with Pacific Relocation.
Last reviewed 2026-06-11.