HomeWashingtonBenton County
Benton County, Washington: commercial real estate data.
Benton County, Washington had an estimated 218,190 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 206,869, across 1,700 square miles. County output reached $16.92 bn in 2024, 4,960 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 267 7(a) approvals worth $109.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Benton County
How many people live in Benton County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024212,905
- Households78,046
- Average household size2.73
- Median household income$89,874
- Median age36.3
- Median gross rent$1,306 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$407,800
- Home value to household income4.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over139,198
- Population under 1855,579
- Share under 1826.1 percent
- Population 65 and over33,796
- Share 65 and over15.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64123,530
- Civilian labor force100,809
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.1 percent
- Rank by population among Washington counties10th of 39
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included327th of 3,222
Benton County is the 10th largest of 39 Washington counties by population. A median home costs 4.5 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 26.1 percent against 15.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Benton County
Is Benton County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024218,190
- Census 2020 base population206,869
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.47 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,745
- Births, 20242,394
- Deaths, 20241,907
- Natural change, 2024487
- Net domestic migration, 20241,173
- Net international migration, 20241,087
- Total net migration, 20242,260
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20246,046
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents476th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.47 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Benton County
Where are people moving to Benton County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving6,192
- People arriving, from those returns11,574
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,695
- Net household movement497
- Adjusted gross income arriving$417.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$15.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$67,484
- Average income of a leaving household$70,735
- Largest single originFranklin County (1,537 households)
- Largest single destinationFranklin County (1,356 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 1,537 | 3,134 | $92.6 m |
| Yakima County | 580 | 1,089 | $27.4 m |
| King County | 291 | 510 | $36.0 m |
| Spokane County | 200 | 299 | $9.0 m |
| Snohomish County | 156 | 287 | $14.5 m |
| Grant County | 155 | 279 | $8.2 m |
| Walla Walla County | 155 | 273 | $8.7 m |
| Umatilla County | 133 | 233 | $7.6 m |
Households arriving report $3,251 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Franklin County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Benton County
What is the Benton County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$16.92 bn
- County GDP, 2023$15.75 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.4 percent
- GDP change over five years37.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Washington areas BEA publishes9th of 39
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes297th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$79,468
Output grew 7.4 percent in the latest year and 37.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Benton County
Employment by industry in Benton County
- Covered employment, annual average98,668
- Establishments reporting5,416
- Average annual pay$70,807
- Average weekly wage$1,362
- Health care and social assistance, employment15,648
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,224
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment10,878
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$102,509
- Retail trade, employment10,056
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,440
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment9,854
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$121,278
- Construction, employment8,262
- Accommodation and food services, employment7,978
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 15,648 | 746 | $63,224 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 10,878 | 320 | $102,509 |
| Retail trade | 10,056 | 540 | $39,440 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 9,854 | 607 | $121,278 |
| Construction | 8,262 | 752 | $87,388 |
| Accommodation and food services | 7,978 | 489 | $28,107 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 6,817 | 210 | $36,516 |
| Manufacturing | 4,679 | 193 | $70,497 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 15,648 jobs, 15.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Benton County
How many businesses are in Benton County?
- Establishments, all industries4,960
- Employment at those establishments76,642
- Annual payroll$5.16 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Benton County
Building permits in Benton County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,515
- Declared construction value permitted$438.9 m
- Single family units authorized1,058
- Multifamily units authorized457
- Multifamily share of units30.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$289,706
- Units authorized per 1,000 households19.4
Single-family homes are 69.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Benton County
SBA loans in Benton County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded267
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$109.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$411,327
- Median 7(a) approval$120,000
- 10th percentile approval$28,400
- 90th percentile approval$1,342,400
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,820
- Jobs per approval10.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active45
- Distinct industries receiving approvals117
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms29
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter223
- Franchise loans34
- Franchise share of approvals12.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (17)
- Most active lenderHAPO Community CU (49)
- 504 approvals recorded90
- 504 gross approval dollars$78.6 m
- Average 504 approval$873,856
- Median 504 approval$595,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval7.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.2
- Most active CDCNorthwest Business Development Association (62)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$188.5 m
The average approval of $411,327 sits well above the median of $120,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Benton County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Benton County
Do SBA loans in Benton County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded52
- Paid in full50
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans3.8 percent
- Status: Paid in full50
- Status: Exempt from disclosure171
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled30
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed14
Of the 52 loans that have reached a final outcome, 3.8 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Benton County
SBA lending by place in Benton County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Kennewick, approvals139
- Richland, approvals92
- Benton City, approvals14
- Prosser, approvals13
- West Richland, approvals8
- Walla Walla, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | 139 | $63,811,200 |
| Richland | 92 | $35,707,500 |
| Benton City | 14 | $5,227,800 |
| Prosser | 13 | $1,649,900 |
| West Richland | 8 | $3,177,800 |
| Walla Walla | 1 | $250,000 |
Kennewick accounts for 139 approvals against 92 in Richland. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Benton County
How large is Benton County?
- Land area1,700 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Washington counties22nd of 39
- Width, east to west44.8 mi
- Height, north to south61.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land125
- Establishments per square mile2.92
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Benton County
Flood risk in Benton County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Benton County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 530237
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Benton County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Benton County (community 530237), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Benton County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Benton County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Benton County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024212,905
- Households78,046
- Average household size2.73
- Median household income$89,874
- Median age36.3
Common questions
Benton County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Benton County, Washington?
The Census Bureau estimates 218,190 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 212,905, in 78,046 households, ranking 10th of 39 Washington counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Benton County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.47 percent since the 2020 census base of 206,869, to 218,190 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,394 births against 1,907 deaths, with net migration of 2,260. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Benton County?
$89,874. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $407,800, which is 4.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,306 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Benton County?
4,960 establishments, employing 76,642 people with an annual payroll of $5.16 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Benton County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 15,648 jobs, 15.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 98,668 jobs at an average annual pay of $70,807, or $1,362 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Benton County?
267 7(a) approvals totaling $109.8 m since FY2020, across 45 lenders, with a median approval of $120,000, plus 90 504 approvals worth $78.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Benton County get paid back?
Of the 52 loans that have reached a final outcome, 50 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 3.8 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Benton County?
1,515 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $438.9 m. Multifamily was 30.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Benton County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Benton County come from?
The largest single origin is Franklin County, with 1,537 households. Arriving households report an average income of $67,484 against $70,735 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Benton County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Benton County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Benton County
Cities and places in Benton.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Benton County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | city | 85,295 | 139 | Wholly in this county |
| Richland | city | 62,753 | 92 | Wholly in this county |
| West Richland | city | 17,586 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Prosser | city | 6,305 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Finley | CDP | 5,634 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Benton City | city | 3,695 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 267 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Benton County, the largest being Walla Walla (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.