The Town FilesPasco, Washington
City in Franklin County · population 77,108 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $376,300
- Household income
- $85,586
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 30.3
Pasco is a city of 77,108 people in Franklin County, Washington. The median home is worth $376,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks more vibrant than 84% of Washington towns, more walkable than 80% of Washington towns, easier by car than 72% of Washington towns.
How Pasco 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 Pasco is worth $376,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $85,586, which is more affordable than 78% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,227 a month. 70.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pasco | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $376,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,227 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $85,586 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 70.9% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pasco
| People | Pasco | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Pasco
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 7.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pasco since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on March 31, 2020 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 20, 2012.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| February 4, 2021 | Fire | DR-4584: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 37,554 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,266 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Pasco itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Pasco
29 public schools with 18,992 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiawana Senior High School | 8-12 | 3,163 | 20.9 |
| Pasco Senior High School | 9-12 | 2,515 | 19.8 |
| Ray Reynolds Middle School | 6-8 | 1,289 | 20.1 |
| Mcloughlin Middle School | 6-8 | 1,087 | 19.1 |
| Stevens Middle School | 6-8 | 938 | 17.7 |
| Ellen Ochoa Middle School | 6-8 | 859 | 18.7 |
| Three Rivers Elementary | PK-5 | 656 | 17.3 |
| Barbara McClintock STEM Elementary | PK-5 | 625 | 15.2 |
| Columbia River Elementary | PK-5 | 609 | 16.5 |
| Maya Angelou Elementary | PK-5 | 579 | 15.6 |
| Ruth Livingston Elementary | PK-5 | 568 | 16.7 |
| Mark Twain Elementary | PK-5 | 550 | 15.7 |
Towns near Pasco
- Kennewick, WA5.4 mi · 83,921 people · home $370,700
- Finley, WA7.6 mi · 6,152 people · home $382,500
- Burbank, WA8.1 mi · 3,499 people · home $412,900
- Richland, WA8.4 mi · 60,560 people · home $436,700
- West Richland, WA13.1 mi · 16,295 people · home $448,300
- Benton City, WA17.1 mi · 3,479 people · home $355,200
- Umatilla, OR26.1 mi · 7,363 people · home $238,500
Pasco questions
Is Pasco, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pasco scores better for retirees than 6% of Washington towns and quieter than 12%. 9.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.3).
How much does a house cost in Pasco?
The median owner-occupied home in Pasco is valued at $376,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,586, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,227 a month.
What is the weather like in Pasco?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Pasco get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pasco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on March 31, 2020. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)