Aerial view of the Kent Station shopping center in downtown Kent · Photo: Junnell at English Wikipedia, Public domain
A town of about 135,603 people in King County, part of the Seattle area. Resident comments and photos are about Kent; job numbers cover the wider area.
The Seattle area:Tech hub · Tech jobs 2.2x the U.S. share
Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Kent scores 70 or higher out of 100.
Outdoorsy
100 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
Big-city feel
96 / 100
Big-city feel: 4.0 million people in the metro, 49 buildings 20+ stories, 2,846 bus and train stops
"trying to figure out how I feel about living here with a various list of pros and cons" A resident, Reddit
Historic
88 / 100
197 places on the National Register of Historic Places nearby
"They have a super open vibe, people are friendly, and they have a lot" A resident, Reddit
Lively
72 / 100
Lively: about 61 bars, music venues and restaurants per 100,000 people
"Compared to the major cities, it's boring, but there are cool bars in a bunch of neighborhoods." A resident, Reddit
Less so: cozy.
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Of about 19,856 rented homes in Kent, 62% rent for under $2,000 a month and 95% for under $3,000.
Under $1,000: 8%
$1,000 to $1,499: 18%
$1,500 to $1,999: 37%
$2,000 to $2,499: 25%
$2,500 to $2,999: 8%
$3,000 or more: 5%
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Hiring movers
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
Moving in as a renter
The middle rented home in Kent rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $3,000 to $3,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $4,500 to $5,997 where landlords also ask for last month.
Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,500 to $1,999, that's a yearly income of about $54,000 to $71,964.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Moving to Washington: before and after
Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Washington DMV.
Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Schools
18 public school districts in this county, with about 260,829 students in all. The county also has 8 public charter schools and 210 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.
Public Public charter Private District that covers the center of Kent: Kent School District
District lines: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.
Closest public schools to the center of Kent
Elementary
East Hill Elementary School0.3 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 404 students · 15.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 32%, math about 19% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
Park Orchard Elementary School1.0 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 492 students · 17.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 35 to 39%, math about 27% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
George T. Daniel Elementary School1.2 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 355 students · 11.8 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 28%, math about 21% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
Middle
Mill Creek Middle School0.8 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 819 students · 18.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 28%, math about 14% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
Meridian Middle School1.5 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 656 students · 17.7 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 51%, math about 32% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
Canyon Ridge Middle School1.7 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 790 students · 18.4 per teacher
High school
Kent-Meridian High School1.0 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,706 students · 19.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 51% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
Kentridge High School2.7 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 2,124 students · 22.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 76% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
Auburn Mountainview High School3.7 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,611 students · 20.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 67% (state: reading 53%, math about 41%)
Private
Sunbeams Lutheran School1.0 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 4 · 53 students · 11.5 per teacher
Montessori Plus School1.2 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to K · 4 students · 1.1 per teacher
Cascade Vista Baptist School2.2 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 124 students · 12 per teacher
Straight-line miles from the center of Kent, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Washington's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.
19,524 students · 19 students per teacher · 30 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
School choice and pre-K in Washington
Going to school in another district
State law lets each district decide whether to take students from other districts. Some do, some don't; ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law says families can ask for a different school in the same district, and the district must allow it when there's room.
Free state pre-K
19% of 4-year-olds and 9% of 3-year-olds in Washington attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.
School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Daycare and preschool
Washington keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
Age
Daycare center
Home daycare
Infant (under 2)
$478/week
about $24,900 a year
$347/week
about $18,000 a year
Toddler (2)
$390/week
about $20,300 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)
$390/week
about $20,300 a year
$310/week
about $16,100 a year
School-age
$289/week
about $15,000 a year
For an infant at a center: $478/week here, $370 across WA, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 17% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Public, 4-year · 5,809 students · $12,559 in-state, $41,913 out-of-state
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.
The facts behind it
Typical home value
$720,147
What a typical home sells for across the Seattle area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Average commute
30 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,753 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in WA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Very High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Very Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
1 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
32 per 100,000 people a year
749 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. WA average: 33 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 72.4 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 16,936 people without housing in the Seattle/King County area: 7,126 in shelters and 9,810 outside, up from 16,868 in 2024. WA: 39.9 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$122,148
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.84% of home value a year
About $840 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
No state income tax
WA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
