What it's like to live in Richland
Richland is a smaller city in Washington with household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Richland deals with home prices well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Richland compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Richland
Based on Richland's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,936
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,720 a year
- 37% of Richland renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,670
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,468/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,468 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $436,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $436,700 · 37% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 22% below US
257 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2036/100k · Richland Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 29% above US
47% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 47% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (24 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Richland's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,468/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Richland
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