What it's like to live in Kennewick
Kennewick is a smaller city in Washington with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kennewick deals with larger class sizes than the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Growing population
The not so good
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Kennewick compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kennewick
Based on Kennewick's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,480
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,600 a year
- 53% of Kennewick renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,070
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,240/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,240 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $370,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $370,700 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 12% above US
4.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
318 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2679/100k · Kennewick Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 27% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
31 public schools inside the boundary
There are 31 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (27 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Kennewick's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,240/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Kennewick
All Washington guides →Moving to West Richland →
13 mi away · pop. 17,586
Rent $1,590/mo · Income $119,892
Compare with Kennewick →Moving to Grandview →
35 mi away · pop. 11,187
Rent $1,107/mo · Income $61,106
Compare with Kennewick →Not sure Kennewick is the one?
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