Renton Home Prices: $754K, Down 1.6% — 5 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)

$754,242. That’s what a typical home costs in Renton today, and the number is smaller than it was a year ago. Prices are down 1.6% year over year across the city’s five ZIP codes, sliding from a March 2025 peak of $766,652.

Quick answer: The average home price in Renton, WA is $754,242 as of February 2026, down 1.6% year over year according to Zillow.

Current Home Prices in Renton

The Renton housing market sits in correction territory. The Zillow Home Value Index puts the typical home at $754,242 — well below the spring 2025 high but above last summer’s low of $746,957.

The gap between Renton’s cheapest and priciest ZIP is about $403K. That’s a wide spread for a city of just over 100,000 people. A buyer with a $560K budget has options here. A buyer chasing East Renton inclines is looking at nearly a million.

The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro context matters. Renton sits south of Bellevue and east of SeaTac, and its prices reflect that middle position — pricier than Tacoma, well below central Bellevue. The 1.6% annual drop is mild compared to deeper corrections in some Sun Belt metros, but it still erases roughly $12,000 from the typical Renton home’s value.

Renton Home Prices by Neighborhood

Five ZIP codes cover Renton, and they tell different stories.

Most Expensive

• 98059 — $963,383. The east side ZIP and the only one approaching seven figures, sitting 28% above the city average.
• 98056 — $868,263. North Renton near Coulon Park and Kennydale, 15% above average and the second-priciest area.
• 98058 — $730,690. The Highlands area, just below the city median but commanding the highest rents at $2,300 a month.

Most Affordable

• 98057 — $560,714. The cheapest ZIP, 26% below the city average, with rent at $2,147 — one of the rare cases where a lower home value doesn’t track with the lowest rent.
• 98055 — $648,162. Downtown-adjacent and 14% below average, with the lowest rent in the city at $2,103.
• 98058 — $730,690. The most affordable ZIP in the upper half of Renton’s price distribution, but nowhere near the bargain that 98057 or 98055 offer.

Rent vs Buy in Renton

Renting wins on monthly cost — by a wide margin.

The average ZORI rent across Renton ZIPs is roughly $2,212 a month. A mortgage on the median $754,242 home with 20% down at current rates runs about $4,000 a month in principal and interest. Add property taxes and insurance, and you’re closer to $5,000.

That’s a gap of more than $2,500 a month. Over a year, owning costs around $30,000 more than renting in cash terms. Buyers build equity, of course, but with prices declining 1.6% year over year, recent purchases have lost value rather than gained it.

The cheapest rent is in 98055 at $2,103. The cheapest home is in 98057 at $560,714. They’re not the same ZIP, which is unusual — most markets have rents and prices that move together.

For a renter weighing the jump to ownership, the math right now favors waiting. Prices are down. Rents are flat to slightly up. The monthly premium for owning is steep, and there’s no obvious price floor in the recent data.

Population Growth and Migration

Renton is losing people, slowly.

The city peaked at 106,734 in 2020, dropped to 104,405 by 2022, and has been clawing back since. The 2024 estimate of 105,543 is still 1.1% below 2020. That’s a net loss of about 1,200 residents over four years.

Compare that with other Washington cities:

Renton is the only city on this list to lose population since 2020. Seattle gained 5.5% in the same window. That divergence matters for housing demand. A shrinking population puts downward pressure on prices, and Renton’s 1.6% home value decline lines up with that signal.

Renton Housing Market Trends

The 12-month price arc is a clean inverted V — peak in spring 2025, trough in late summer, partial recovery into winter, slight pullback heading into 2026.

From March 2025 to August 2025, prices fell roughly $20,000. From August to January, they recovered about $8,000. Then February gave a sliver back. Net for the year: down $12,410, or 1.6%.

Is Renton a Good Place to Buy in 2026?

The data points to a buyer’s market — with conditions.

Prices are down year over year. Population is declining. The most affordable ZIP, 98057, has held nearly flat in dollar terms while the priciest ZIP, 98059, gave back the largest absolute losses from peak. That pattern — top-heavy declines, stable bottom — favors first-time buyers in Renton’s lower-priced ZIPs over move-up buyers in 98059.

Renting still beats buying on monthly cash cost by roughly $2,500. So the case for buying isn’t about saving money today. It’s about catching a market that has been correcting for a year.

If you have flexibility on timing, the recent six-month recovery from $746,957 to $754,242 suggests the bottom may be in. If you don’t, the cheapest ZIPs offer the cleanest math: 98055 at $648K with $2,103 rents, or 98057 at $560K.

Renton Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027

The 3-month trend tells the most useful story. Prices held essentially flat from December 2025 ($754,056) through February 2026 ($754,242) — a swing of less than $200 in either direction.

That’s a stalled market, not a falling one. The summer 2025 trough is six months in the rearview, and the winter recovery has plateaued.

If the current pace continues, Renton’s typical home value should hover in the $750K-$760K range through mid-2026. A break above $760K would signal renewed demand. A break below $747K would put the market back into the August low zone.

Population trends remain a drag. Until Renton starts adding residents the way Seattle and Tacoma have, demand won’t push prices much higher. The most likely path is a flat to slightly negative 2026, with sharper movement in the most expensive ZIPs and stability in the cheapest.

Similar Markets in WA

• Seattle — The metro’s anchor city is pricier than Renton but growing where Renton is shrinking.
• Bothell — Another Eastside suburb in a similar price tier; worth comparing for buyers weighing 98059 against north King County.
• Shoreline — North Seattle alternative with comparable home values and a different commute profile.
• Everett — A more affordable Snohomish County option for buyers who’d otherwise look at 98055 or 98057.
• Tacoma — South Sound alternative offering substantially lower prices than any Renton ZIP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home price in Renton?

The average home price in Renton, WA is $754,242 as of February 2026. The figure is the Zillow Home Value Index across the city’s five ZIP codes. Individual neighborhoods range from $560,714 in 98057 to $963,383 in 98059.

Are home prices going up or down in Renton?

Down. Renton home values fell 1.6% over the past year, dropping from a March 2025 peak of $766,652 to $754,242 in February 2026. The market hit a low of $746,957 in August 2025 and has since recovered modestly, but recent months have been flat.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Renton?

Renting is cheaper by a wide margin. The average rent across Renton ZIPs is about $2,212 a month. A mortgage on the median $754K home with 20% down runs roughly $4,000 in principal and interest, plus taxes and insurance — a monthly gap of more than $2,500.

What is the most affordable neighborhood in Renton?

ZIP 98057 has the lowest typical home value at $560,714 — about 26% below the citywide median. The next-cheapest ZIP is 98055 at $648,162, where rents are also the lowest in the city at $2,103 a month.

Methodology

Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.