The Town FilesRichland, Washington
City in Benton County · population 60,560 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $436,700
- Household income
- $95,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 36.4
Richland is a city of 60,560 people in Benton County, Washington. The median home is worth $436,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 89% of Washington towns, more vibrant than 81% of Washington towns, more upscale than 78% of Washington towns.
How Richland ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Richland is worth $436,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $95,813, which is more affordable than 70% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,468 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richland | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $436,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,468 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $95,813 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Richland
| People | Richland | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.6% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Richland
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.8°F. About 7.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richland since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on March 31, 2020 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 98,668 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,807 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Richland itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Richland
17 public schools with 11,743 students, about 19.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland High School | 9-12 | 2,234 | 22.3 |
| Hanford High School | 9-12 | 1,958 | 23.9 |
| Carmichael Middle School | 6-8 | 808 | 20.7 |
| Amon Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 754 | 17.1 |
| Three Rivers Home Link | K-12 | 714 | 34.0 |
| Chief Joseph Middle School | 6-8 | 671 | 19.2 |
| White Bluffs Elementary School | PK-5 | 642 | 18.9 |
| Orchard Elementary | PK-5 | 623 | 17.8 |
| Badger Mountain Elementary | K-5 | 588 | 18.4 |
| Jason Lee Elementary School | PK-5 | 514 | 17.7 |
| Lewis & Clark Elementary School | PK-5 | 480 | 17.1 |
| Marcus Whitman Elementary | K-5 | 464 | 15.5 |
Towns near Richland
- West Richland, WA4.8 mi · 16,295 people · home $448,300
- Kennewick, WA8.4 mi · 83,921 people · home $370,700
- Pasco, WA8.4 mi · 77,108 people · home $376,300
- Benton City, WA9.0 mi · 3,479 people · home $355,200
- Finley, WA14.4 mi · 6,152 people · home $382,500
- Burbank, WA16.1 mi · 3,499 people · home $412,900
- Prosser, WA23.3 mi · 6,062 people · home $314,000
- Umatilla, OR25.6 mi · 7,363 people · home $238,500
Richland questions
Is Richland, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richland scores better for retirees than 47% of Washington towns and quieter than 25%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Richland?
The median owner-occupied home in Richland is valued at $436,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,813, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,468 a month.
What is the weather like in Richland?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Richland get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on March 31, 2020. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)