The Town FilesWest Richland, Washington
City in Benton County · population 16,295 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $448,300
- Household income
- $119,892
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 35.5
West Richland is a city of 16,295 people in Benton County, Washington. The median home is worth $448,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for families than 84% of Washington towns, more upscale than 81% of Washington towns, more of a college town than 72% of Washington towns.
How West 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 West Richland is worth $448,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $119,892, which is more affordable than 92% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,590 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Richland | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $448,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,590 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $119,892 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in West Richland
| People | West Richland | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 30.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in West 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
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of West Richland since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on March 31, 2020 about 5.3 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 West Richland itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in West Richland
6 public schools with 2,973 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leona Libby Middle School | 6-8 | 822 | 20.6 |
| Enterprise Middle School | 6-8 | 712 | 19.2 |
| William Wiley Elementary School | K-5 | 521 | 16.8 |
| Tapteal Elementary School | PK-5 | 464 | 15.5 |
| Desert Sky Elementary | K-5 | 426 | 17.0 |
| Special Programs | PK-12 | 28 | — |
Towns near West Richland
- Richland, WA4.8 mi · 60,560 people · home $436,700
- Benton City, WA5.6 mi · 3,479 people · home $355,200
- Kennewick, WA12.9 mi · 83,921 people · home $370,700
- Pasco, WA13.1 mi · 77,108 people · home $376,300
- Finley, WA19.2 mi · 6,152 people · home $382,500
- Prosser, WA19.5 mi · 6,062 people · home $314,000
- Burbank, WA20.9 mi · 3,499 people · home $412,900
- Grandview, WA25.4 mi · 10,907 people · home $265,300
West Richland questions
Is West Richland, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Richland scores better for retirees than 30% of Washington towns and quieter than 37%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in West Richland?
The median owner-occupied home in West Richland is valued at $448,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,892, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,590 a month.
What is the weather like in West 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 West Richland get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of West 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)