Places › Washington › Richland

Living in Richland, WA

Small city in Washington

Richland is a small city in Washington, home to about 62,000 people, with 285,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Richland a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Safe: violent crime is 0.5× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Mild summers: highs around 86°F
  • Strong healthcare: 1 top-rated (4–5★) hospital within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Smaller job market: about 285,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer graduates: 46% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher

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

Key facts

Population
62,000
285,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
43°F / 86°F
Average daily highs · 2″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$419k
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 · 0.82% property tax
Safety
0.5× 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
46%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
GEG
124 mi away

Living in Richland: common questions

What is the cost of living in Richland?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $419k, 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 Richland?

Washington collects about $70 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.82% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Richland safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.5× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Richland?

Richland has cool winters: winter days average around 43°F and summer days around 86°F, with roughly 2″ of snow a year.

Does Richland 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 0.53 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Richland?

The nearest major airport is GEG, about 124 mi away.

How Richland scores

Each bar compares Richland 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 town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car 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 Slow & calm 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 Below average
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Poor
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Average

Places like Richland

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

Nearby

See all the best places to live in Washington.

Is Richland right for you?

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

Take the free quiz →

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.