Population 212,905 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Benton County
Household size in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.72 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.76 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.79 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Benton County average 2.79 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.72, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.6 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.4 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.2 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.1 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Benton County is 37.2 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the center. Benton County is younger than the great majority of Washington counties.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Benton County (12.6%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Washington overall (10.1%). Benton County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Washington counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Benton County
Renters in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.4% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Benton County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Washington as a whole (36.2%). Nearly four in ten owners (37.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Benton County than nationally: 7.2%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Washington as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Benton County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $884 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $929 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,085 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,478 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$595 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Benton County runs $1,478 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $595 a month since 2006–10, up 67%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.7% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Benton County
Bachelor's degrees in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.9% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.2% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Benton County (33.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Washington as a whole (38.8%). The share with a degree has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.2% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.0% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.0% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Benton County have finished high school as nationally: 89.0%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Washington as a whole (91.9%). Benton County has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Washington counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Benton County is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Benton County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | 2.79 | 37.2 | 12.6% | 32.4% | 7.2% | 1986 | $1,478 | 33.2% | 89.0% | 5.2% |
| Franklin County | 3.30 | 32.1 | 18.2% | 29.0% | 5.6% | 1991 | $1,562 | 21.7% | 77.4% | 5.0% |
| Umatilla County | 2.72 | 37.3 | 16.7% | 32.1% | 10.6% | 1979 | $1,097 | 18.5% | 83.1% | 5.2% |
| Morrow County | 2.92 | 37.2 | 13.0% | 28.4% | 10.1% | 1982 | $1,064 | 9.9% | 74.9% | 2.3% |
| Walla Walla County | 2.59 | 39.0 | 11.4% | 35.0% | 9.6% | 1971 | $1,268 | 29.6% | 89.6% | 6.7% |
| Yakima County | 3.01 | 34.2 | 18.2% | 38.2% | 6.1% | 1977 | $1,212 | 18.5% | 75.7% | 7.4% |
| Columbia County | 2.11 | 49.5 | 9.6% | 22.3% | 15.8% | 1956 | $1,020 | 23.9% | 89.1% | 4.2% |
| Garfield County | 2.29 | 47.4 | 2.4% | 23.1% | 15.7% | 1961 | $810 | 31.1% | 94.1% | 5.9% |
| Klickitat County | 2.36 | 47.0 | 8.1% | 23.3% | 9.5% | 1984 | $1,191 | 31.0% | 89.4% | 5.8% |
| Whitman County | 2.21 | 33.8 | 7.7% | 53.2% | 14.6% | 1973 | $1,119 | 53.7% | 96.6% | 6.7% |
| Asotin County | 2.40 | 46.4 | 10.4% | 26.8% | 9.1% | 1976 | $1,133 | 23.9% | 92.2% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Onslow County, NC · Harrison County, MS · Hawaii County, HI · Gloucester County, NJ · Erie County, PA · Johnston County, NC · Berkeley County, SC · Marin County, CA · Merced County, CA · Mohave County, AZ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Benton County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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