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Living in
Richland.
About
Life in Richland
Richland's economy is built on a foundation that won't go away anytime soon—nuclear research, waste management, and energy infrastructure employ thousands directly and indirectly through major employers like PNNL and various DOE contractors. That stability matters for job security and median household income here sits around $95,813, which is solid for Washington. Beyond the technical sector, the wine industry has genuinely taken off, with the Columbia Valley appellation surrounding the city producing recognized wines, and that's brought tourism and secondary businesses.
Richland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Foreign-Born
8.6%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+7.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Richland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Richland, the largest foreign-born group is from India (16.3%), and 5.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.0%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.5%
of households
Married Couples
46.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Richland
In Richland, rent runs 17% below the WA average, and home values are 23% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,558
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $462,807 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Richland
Unemployment in Richland is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Richland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.4 min avg
How Richland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Richland, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Tri Cities Airport (PSC)
Small hub526k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Richland runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
257.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,036.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Richland Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 3 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Benton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Benton County, which includes Richland, the most common type is high wind, with 3 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 7 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 3 | Frost/Freeze | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 13 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 7 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 8 | Dust Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 10 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 8 | Wildfire | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Benton County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Benton County, which includes Richland, is typically good — 293 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
293
per year
Moderate Days
70
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Benton County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Richland has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
8.6"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
84
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 29°F | 1.04" |
| Feb | 48°F | 30°F | 0.67" |
| Mar | 57°F | 35°F | 0.64" |
| Apr | 65°F | 41°F | 0.62" |
| May | 74°F | 48°F | 0.63" |
| Jun | 80°F | 54°F | 0.56" |
| Jul | 89°F | 60°F | 0.23" |
| Aug | 88°F | 59°F | 0.13" |
| Sep | 79°F | 51°F | 0.29" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 0.54" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 0.87" |
| Dec | 40°F | 28°F | 1.07" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Richland
Richland has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Kadlec Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Kadlec Regional Medical Center · 888 Swift Blvd
- Outpatient center: Kadlec Clinic - Northwest Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine · 1351 Fowler St Ste 100, Richland
- Outpatient center: Kadlec ExpressCare · 4008 W 27th Ave, Kennewick
- Outpatient center: Kadlec Healthplex · 1270 Lee Blvd Ste B, Richland
Lourdes Counseling Center
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Trios Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Kennewick
Lourdes Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 10.2 mi away · Pasco
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education19.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Richland
Richland's student/teacher ratio is 19.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 46.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Richland (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 4,640 students · in-state tuition $6,744 · 44% graduate · median earnings $51,967 (10 yrs after entry)
Pacific Northwest Christian College
8.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 129 students · in-state tuition $11,350 · 50% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, 24 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Richland
Richland has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (24 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
National Geologic Trail
24 mi awayWhitman Mission National Historic Site
National Historic Site
43 mi awayPublic Libraries in Richland
Richland Public Library
955 Northgate Dr, Richland
Cities Near Richland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Richland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Richland FAQ
Is Richland, Washington affordable?⌄
Richland's median rent is $1,468/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $95,813/year. Median home value is $436,700.
Is Richland, Washington safe?⌄
Richland's violent crime rate was 257 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2036 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Richland, Washington?⌄
Richland has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Richland, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Richland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,468/month and median household income is $95,813/year. The median home value is $436,700. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Richland, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Richland is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from