Benton County, Washington Demographics 2026
Benton County, Washington has a population of 212,905, the 10th most populous county in Washington. The median household income is $89,874 and the median home value is $407,800. The poverty rate is 11.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Benton County Quick Facts
How Benton County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 210,224 | 212,905 | +1.3% |
| Median household income | $87,316 | $89,874 | +2.9% |
| Median home value | $369,400 | $407,800 | +10.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 56 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Benton County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | 85,295 | $73,576 | 14.3% | $370,700 |
| Richland | 62,753 | $95,813 | 9.0% | $436,700 |
| West Richland | 17,586 | $119,892 | 8.5% | $448,300 |
| Prosser | 6,305 | $76,985 | 16.8% | $314,000 |
| Finley | 5,634 | $92,231 | 5.1% | $382,500 |
| Benton City | 3,695 | $63,542 | 11.3% | $355,200 |
Explore Washington Rankings
Population Overview
Benton County is located in Washington with a total population of 212,905. It is the 10th most populous county out of 39 in Washington. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Benton County is 36.3 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.3 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Benton County is $89,874. This is 8% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 11% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.0%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $407,800. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 67.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 63.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Benton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 25.6%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 3.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (25.6% vs 14.4%). The Asian population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 9.7%.
Education
33.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Benton County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Washington and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Benton County, Washington?
Benton County has a population of 212,905, making it the 10th most populous county in Washington.
What is the median income in Benton County?
The median household income in Benton County is $89,874 with a poverty rate of 11.0%.
How many cities are in Benton County, Washington?
Benton County contains 6 Census-designated places.