The Town FilesBenton County, Washington
212,905 people. The median home is worth $407,800 (typical Washington town: $475,000) and the median household earns $89,874.
Towns in Benton County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | 83,921 | $370,700 | $73,576 | 35.7 |
| Richland | 60,560 | $436,700 | $95,813 | 36.4 |
| West Richland | 16,295 | $448,300 | $119,892 | 35.5 |
| Finley | 6,152 | $382,500 | $92,231 | 44.9 |
| Prosser | 6,062 | $314,000 | $76,985 | 33.1 |
| Benton City | 3,479 | $355,200 | $63,542 | 29.6 |
People and housing
| Benton County | Typical Washington town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $407,800 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,306 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $89,874 | $90,625 |
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.2% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 8.5% |
Jobs and pay
98,668 jobs in 2024, average pay $70,807 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 292 storm events in Benton County from 1996 to 2026, with 11 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Benton County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
| April 21, 2017 | Flood | DR-4309: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| August 1, 2016 | Fire | FM-5142: South Ward Gap Fire |
| August 22, 2009 | Fire | FM-2827: Dry Creek Fire Complex |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).