Benton County, Washington Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Benton County is located in Washington with a total population of 210,224. It is the 10th most populous county out of 39 in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benton County is 36.2 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benton County is $87,316. This is 8% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% higher. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. The median home value is $369,400. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 68.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Benton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 24.8%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (24.8% vs 14.1%). The Asian population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 9.3%.

Education

33.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.