| Renton Washington is a mere 11 miles from Seattle so people can enjoy a mid-sized city atmosphere while being near the excitement of a major American city. Water sports are nearby in the form of the Cedar River and Lake Washington. This city was settled in the 1860s, with money made in lumbering, mining, and clay production. The modern city is home to a Boeing 737 final assembly plant, technology manufacturing, and service companies. The Seattle Sea Hawks have a training facility in this city. Renton is the eighth largest city in the state with a population of 101,000 + people. The median income per household is $45,820 and only 9.7% of the population fall below the poverty line. The median house cost is high at $384,100.00 and the cost of living is also higher than average by from 25% to 41% depending on the source. What do residents get for that higher than average cost of housing and living? Well, they get a fairly low crime rate and a beautiful setting to live in. There are many schools and places of higher education. They have major companies to find employment at. The quality of life offered by the amenities the city offers are a draw for many people. But how safe is this city to live in? Renton Washington Crime Statistics. Renton is safer than 3% of similar sized cities in the United states. It is a beautiful place to live with employment opportunities and many advantages but it does have crime to contend with. Violent crimes number 2.99 per 1,000 residents and property crimes add up to 57.81 per 1,000 people. A person’s chances of being the victim of a violent crime are 1 in 334. There is a 1 in 24.9 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime. That is a little higher than the overall crime average for the state of Washington and a little higher than the average for the United states. Residents can take steps to keep themselves safe and their homes secure. The crime statistics vary from neighborhood to neighborhood with the southern and western part of the city having the lowest crime rates and the northeast part of the city having the highest crime rates. The lowest crime rate neighborhoods are often the most expensive to live in. That is fine for families earning large incomes, but what about the rest of the people who must live in more affordable neighborhoods? For people who already have a home and don’t want to or can’t afford to move, there are security steps to make homes safer. For those looking for a home to buy, here is a list of a few of the safest neighborhoods in Renton: The Cedar Mountain AreaSE Renton Maple Valley Rd and 140th Ave. SE to 149th Ave.The East Renton Highlands areaThe Lake Desire and Maple Valley Heights areaThe Maplewood neighborhoodThe Fairwood area Some of the most popular neighborhoods are not on the list of safest neighborhoods. So if someone wants to live in Kennydale, Cascade, or City Center, they need to take steps to be secure.Things that drive up crime rates include drug use, gang activity, prisons located in or near a city, unrest, and income inequality. By going online to sites such as www.everyblock.com a person can check out the actual crime statistics for the neighborhood their house is located in. Before purchasing a home a person should check the crime statistics and compare them to the city as a whole. How To Make A Home More Secure After a person has purchased a home and has moved in, or a person wants the home they have lived in for a time more secure, there are practical things to do for home security. Consider contacting the security company most used in the neighborhood for a fee quote.Take a good look around the home and lot. Make a list of all possible entry points for intruders and figure out how to make those points more secure. Look at the lot and look from the street. Could a police patrol car see from the street to the front of the house and the sides? Windows should all have secure screens and inside latches. All doors should have secure locks. If the yard is full of overgrown trees and shrubs, they should be trimmed back for a better view and to eliminate hiding places.Are there motion sensitive lights at the front and back entrances to the home? There should be.Is there a neighborhood watch or safety organization to join? These groups when well organized and active, can cut crime in a neighborhood by their vigilance. Even if there is no formal organization, getting acquainted with all the nearby homeowners can be helpful. Neighbors who know each other watch out for each other.Before leaving the home and at bedtime, take a walk around the home to make sure all windows and doors are locked. Criminals look for crimes of opportunity like an open window or unlocked door.Consider adding a dog to the family. They are loyal and loving to family members but will bark a loud warning if they sense an intruder in or near the house.Even if a homeowner does not want to hire a security company, they can purchase do it yourself security cameras or whole security systems at the local Walmart or electronics store or online. There are security cameras for as little as $50.00 each. As the drug problem and other issues make crime rates across the country increase, it is more important than in the past to take steps to ensure home security. Even in relatively low crime rate cities such as Renton, citizens must make sure their families are safe and their homes are secure. For more security system information, go to the website. |
