The Town FilesBenton City, Washington
City in Benton County · population 3,479 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $355,200
- Household income
- $63,542
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 29.6
Benton City is a city of 3,479 people in Benton County, Washington. The median home is worth $355,200, below the typical Washington town ($475,000).
How Benton City ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benton City is worth $355,200, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $63,542, which is more affordable than 41% of Washington towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 72.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton City | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $355,200 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $848 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $63,542 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 72.5% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Benton City
| People | Benton City | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.5% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Benton City
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.8°F. About 7.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Benton City since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
| April 21, 2017 | Flood | DR-4309: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| August 1, 2016 | Fire | FM-5142: South Ward Gap Fire |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 98,668 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,807 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Benton City itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Benton City
3 public schools with 1,427 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiona-Benton City Elementary | PK-5 | 653 | 15.5 |
| Kiona-Benton City High School | 9-12 | 447 | 21.3 |
| Kiona-Benton City Middle School | 6-8 | 327 | 18.2 |
Towns near Benton City
- West Richland, WA5.6 mi · 16,295 people · home $448,300
- Richland, WA9.0 mi · 60,560 people · home $436,700
- Prosser, WA14.3 mi · 6,062 people · home $314,000
- Kennewick, WA15.2 mi · 83,921 people · home $370,700
- Pasco, WA17.1 mi · 77,108 people · home $376,300
- Grandview, WA20.6 mi · 10,907 people · home $265,300
- Finley, WA21.8 mi · 6,152 people · home $382,500
- Burbank, WA24.1 mi · 3,499 people · home $412,900
Benton City questions
Is Benton City, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton City scores better for retirees than 24% of Washington towns and quieter than 62%. 7.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.6).
How much does a house cost in Benton City?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton City is valued at $355,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,542, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton City?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.3 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Benton City get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Benton City in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)