Benton County, WA at a glance
Median household income
$89,874$7,490 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Benton County, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Benton County, WA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,122 | $13,464 | $44,880 | 15% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,268 | $15,216 | $50,720 | 16.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,538 | $18,456 | $61,520 | 20.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,071 | $24,852 | $82,840 | 27.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,385 | $28,620 | $95,400 | 31.8% |
What a typical income covers in Benton County, WA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $89,874 a year ($7,490 a month before tax).
What $89,874 leaves after Washington taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Washington tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Washington
Living in Benton County, WA: common questions
What is the median household income in Benton County, WA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Benton County, WA is $89,874 per year (approximately $7,490 per month).
What is the average rent in Benton County, WA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,122 for a studio, $1,268 for one bedroom, $1,538 for two, $2,071 for three and $2,385 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Benton County, WA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 0.1% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 100.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Benton County, WA?
To keep a $1,538 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $61,520 a year, or $5,127 a month. That is 68% of what the typical household in Benton County, WA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Benton County, WA?
On the local median income of $89,874 ($7,490 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,745 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,247 for everything else and $1,498 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,538 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Benton County, WA?
Homes in Washington paid 14.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $134. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.