Renton, WA vs Lynnwood, WA

Lynnwood is moderately more affordable than Renton, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Renton scores 150 compared to 142 for Lynnwood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Renton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Renton is $1,923/month compared to $1,675/month in Lynnwood — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lynnwood has cheaper rent, Renton actually has lower median home values ($631,400 vs $635,800).

Median household income in Renton is $96,626 compared to $76,439 in Lynnwood (+26.4%). While Renton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Renton spend roughly 23.9% of their income on rent, less than the 26.3% in Lynnwood.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.6°F vs 51.4°F). Renton receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 33.4" in Lynnwood.