Rents are 7% below what Kennewick's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,654 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Kennewick usually run 1.5% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in July, about $38 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Kennewick is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.
Rent in Kennewick changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($73,576) is $1,839 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,575); a 3-bedroom is $2,100.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kennewick. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Kennewick, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 26.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kennewick, WA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Kennewick, WA has shifted from $1,239 to $1,654, up 33.5% since 2021. Census figures show median household income at $73,576 today, compared with $64,053 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Kennewick, WA adding about 2,213 residents over the five-year window, up 2.7% on net. The renter share has risen from 36.7% to 38.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Kennewick on your salary?
At $1,654/mo, how Kennewick rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kennewick rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kennewick. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kennewick
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kennewick is $1,654/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,155/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,575/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,295/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,100/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($73,576/yr), Kennewick ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Kennewick rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kennewick?
At $1,654/mo, rent takes ~27% of Kennewick's median household income ($73,576/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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