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Living in
West Richland.
About
Life in West Richland
This is a genuinely affordable place to buy a home in the Pacific Northwest, which sets it apart immediately—the median home value hovers around $448,300 with a median household income of $119,892, meaning homeownership is actually within reach for middle-income families. The city has grown fast (up 18.2% recently), so you're moving into an expanding community rather than a stagnant one, though that growth means you'll notice new construction and suburban sprawl. The job market is steady with a 4.7% unemployment rate, and the Tri-Cities area (Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco) offers diverse employment across industries, though you should expect a roughly 25-minute commute for many jobs.
West Richland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Foreign-Born
7.2%
Broadband Internet
94.8%
of households
Population Growth
+18.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West Richland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Richland, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (54.7%), and 9.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
30.9%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
44.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.9%
of households
Married Couples
62.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.98
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 10% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in West Richland
In West Richland, rent runs 10% below the WA average, and home values are 21% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,140
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
83.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2001
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $495,299 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in West Richland
Unemployment in Benton County, which includes West Richland, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
West Richland: Benton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Benton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What West Richland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.5 min avg
How West Richland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Richland, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 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 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Richland runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
118.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
631.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
West 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 West 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.
4 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 West 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
West 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Richland
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Richland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Lourdes Counseling Center
Psychiatric · 6 mi away · Richland
Kadlec Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Richland
Trios Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.7 mi away · Kennewick
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.
Education18.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Richland
West Richland's student/teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 39.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West 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
13.3 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, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Richland
West Richland has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
National Geologic Trail
26 mi awayWhitman Mission National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Richland
West Richland Branch Library
3803 W. Van Giesen, West Richland
Cities Near West Richland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Richland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Richland FAQ
Is West Richland, Washington affordable?⌄
West Richland's median rent is $1,590/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $119,892/year. Median home value is $448,300.
Is West Richland, Washington safe?⌄
West Richland's violent crime rate was 118 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 631 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Richland, Washington?⌄
Benton County, which includes West Richland, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Richland, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in West Richland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,590/month and median household income is $119,892/year. The median home value is $448,300. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Richland, Washington?⌄
The average commute in West Richland is 25 minutes, which is about 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