City Report · WA

West Richland

Pop. 17,586·59th most expensive in Washington·Rental market data updated monthly for West Richland, WA
Median rent (all units)
$2,026/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+1.1%
vs US Median
+$94
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
West Richland · $2,026
More expensive than 62% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
20% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,026/mo, rent takes about 20% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$81,000/yr
Local median income
$119,892/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using West Richland's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,440
1 BR
$1,620
2 BR
$1,970
3 BR
$2,630
4 BR+
$3,040
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,970/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,026 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($119,892) is $2,997 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,630); a 4-bedroom is $3,040.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for West Richland. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$24,312/yr
At $2,026/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

West Richland, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 39.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
17,586
Median income
$119,892
Median age
35.5
Renters
16.6%
Age distribution
30.9%
18.4%
28.1%
12.5%
Under 1830.9%
18–3418.4%
35–5428.1%
55–6410.1%
65+12.5%
Gender
49.1%
50.9%
Male49.1%
Female50.9%
Race & ethnicity
75.4%
14.6%
White75.4%
Black0.7%
Hispanic14.6%
Asian2.1%
Other7.2%
Education (25+)
18.7%
33.6%
39.4%
No HS diploma8.3%
HS diploma18.7%
Some college33.6%
Bachelor's+39.4%
Housing tenure
83.4%
16.6%
Owner83.4%
Renter16.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How West Richland, WA has changed in 5 years

Income
$109,209 → $119,892
up 9.8%
Population
15,988 → 17,586
up 10.0%
Renter share
17.2% → 16.6%
-0.6 pts
Bachelor's+
39.7% → 39.4%
-0.3 pts

Median household income rose from $109,209 to $119,892 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.8% shift. The population has grown by 10.0% since 2021, moving from about 15,988 residents to roughly 17,586.

Community

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View West Richland rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in West Richland on your salary?

At $2,026/mo, how West Richland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

West Richland rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in West Richland. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in West Richland

About renting in West Richland, WA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in West Richland is $2,026/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,440/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,970/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,620/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,630/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($119,892/yr), West Richland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in West Richland?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,026/mo in West Richland. The local median household income is $119,892/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in West Richland?

Rent in West Richland has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does West Richland rent compare to other cities in Washington?

West Richland is in the middle among Washington cities for rent, ranking #59 of 109 tracked cities at $2,026/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than West Richland?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than West Richland ($2,026/mo) include Kennewick ($1,654/mo), Hermiston ($1,688/mo), and Richland ($1,697/mo).
Income Affordability
20%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,026/mo, rent takes ~20% of West Richland's median household income ($119,892/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

West Richland 20%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near West Richland, WA

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