Places › Washington › Kennewick

Living in Kennewick, WA

Small city in Washington

Kennewick is a small city in Washington, home to about 84,000 people, with 296,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Kennewick a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.8× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Low taxes: about $70 state income tax per resident, 0.76% property tax
  • Strong healthcare: 1 top-rated (4–5★) hospital within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Smaller job market: about 296,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer graduates: 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Kennewick ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
84,000
296,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
44°F / 88°F
Average daily highs · 2″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$394k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,070/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
100
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$70
State income tax per resident · 0.76% property tax
Safety
0.8× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
4 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, earthquakes
Top-rated hospitals
1
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
27%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
GEG
125 mi away

Living in Kennewick: common questions

What is the cost of living in Kennewick?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $394k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,070 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 100, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Kennewick?

Washington collects about $70 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.76% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Kennewick safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.8× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Kennewick?

Kennewick has cool winters: winter days average around 44°F and summer days around 88°F, with roughly 2″ of snow a year.

Does Kennewick get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 4 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.58 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Kennewick?

The nearest major airport is GEG, about 125 mi away.

How Kennewick scores

Each bar compares Kennewick with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Average

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Is Kennewick right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.