1st Advantage MortgageThe median Benton County household earns $89,874, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Washington before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Benton County
- Housing costs in Benton County
- Household income in Benton County
- Employment and commuting in Benton County
- Benton County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Benton County
- More Benton County figures
- Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Benton County
- Lender oversight for Benton County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Benton County
With an estimated 212,905 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Benton County ranks 10th of 39 in Washington for population. Land area is 1,700 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 125 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (5 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Kennewick, with about 85,295 residents, or 40% of the county.
Housing costs in Benton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,306 in Benton County versus $1,760 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. With a median value of $407,800, a typical Benton County house costs 4.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 68% of homes. The median year built is 1988.
| Home costs | Benton County | Washington | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,306/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $407,800 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 30% | n/a |
Household income in Benton County
Half of Benton County households take in less than $89,874 a year and half take in more, 8% below the Washington median of $98,141. Only 8 Washington counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Benton County | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.8% | +1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.8% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.4% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.0% | -5.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 44% of Benton County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. 11.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.438 here. A household earning below the $89,874 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Benton County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 16%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 5% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Benton County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Benton County share | +/- vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.7% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | -2.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Benton County and the counties next door
Franklin County is closest, 36 miles from center to center; the sixth, Klickitat County, is 65 miles off. Income ranges from $67,728 in Umatilla County to $86,714 in Franklin County; none of these neighbors top Benton County's median. The list crosses into Oregon, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | - | $89,874 | $1,306/mo | 68% |
| Franklin County, WA | 36 mi | $86,714 | $1,198/mo | 71% |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 50 mi | $74,202 | $1,218/mo | 65% |
| Morrow County, OR | 56 mi | $75,448 | $995/mo | 72% |
| Umatilla County, OR | 58 mi | $67,728 | $997/mo | 68% |
| Yakima County, WA | 60 mi | $70,656 | $1,109/mo | 62% |
| Klickitat County, WA | 65 mi | $71,042 | $1,105/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Benton County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Benton County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 181,268 people, so roughly 15% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $119,892 at the median in West Richland, $63,542 in Benton City. Median rent ranges from $848 in Benton City to $1,590 in West Richland. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | city | 85,295 | $73,576 | $1,240 | 16 mi |
| Richland | city | 62,753 | $95,813 | $1,468 | 11 mi |
| West Richland | city | 17,586 | $119,892 | $1,590 | 9 mi |
| Prosser | city | 6,305 | $76,985 | $944 | 12 mi |
| Finley | CDP | 5,634 | $92,231 | $1,099 | 23 mi |
| Benton City | city | 3,695 | $63,542 | $848 | 3 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
More Benton County figures
Degree holders: 33% of adults over 25. 7.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Benton County | Washington | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.2% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Benton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Benton County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Higher earners. 44% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Room for a loan payment in Benton County
Benton County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,490 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,306, which is 17% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,914 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,306, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lender oversight for Benton County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Benton County, check the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Washington guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Benton County:
- Price the Benton County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Benton County-area credit union.
- A Washington license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Washington guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Benton County a high-income county?
Its $89,874 median ranks 9th of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Benton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,306 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Benton County?
By population: Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Prosser, Finley. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Does living in Benton County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Benton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Benton County?
Start with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.