West Richland, WA

This city of 19,770 residents needs 723 more housing units over the next five years. West Richland is part of the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments.

Housing snapshot

Population
19,770 (2026)
Households
6,153
Median household income
$130,718 (2026)
Typical home value
$494,430
Owner-occupied
79%
Five-year housing need
723 units

Comparison to other Washington municipalities

West Richland: $130,718 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$34K >$195K
West Richland: 0.54 jobs to household ratio
<0.12 >2.69
West Richland: Permits since 2021 represent 17.9% of housing
<0.2% >21.9%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

A typical home in West Richland, WA costs $494,430, somewhat above the Washington average of $445,887. West Richland, WA's median household income of $130,718 puts the typical home within reach for most households.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

West Richland, WA has a population of roughly 17,586 and is one of the faster-growing communities in its state, adding residents at 3.2% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

West Richland, WA is one of the faster-growing communities in Washington, adding households at 3.2% per year and totaling roughly 6,153 households.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in West Richland, WA is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 79% of units. West Richland, WA is a strongly owner-occupied community, with 79% of households owning their home.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, West Richland, WA needs 723 new units over the next 5 years.

602
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
9.8%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 6,153 in 2026 to 6,755 in 2031.
121
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
18
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 0.6 per 1,000 units.
78
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 0.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
25
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 3.8%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
723
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
145
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
11.6%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
2.3%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?