Tri-Cities metropolitan area
Tri-Cities Metropolitan Area | |
|---|---|
| Kennewick–Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area | |
.jpg) Aerial view of Kennewick from above the Columbia River | |
| Coordinates: 46°22′N 119°16′W / 46.367°N 119.267°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Largest city | Kennewick (85,158) |
| Other cities | - Pasco (81,415) - Richland (61,912) - West Richland (17,126) - Prosser (6,213) - Connell (5,080) - Benton City (3,559) - Mesa (631) - Kahlotus (171) |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,942.5 sq mi (7,621 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 3,527 ft (1,075 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 266 ft (81 m) |
| Population (2025) | |
• Total | 324,334 |
| • Rank | 165th in the U.S. |
| • Density | 96/sq mi (37/km2) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | $21.08 billion (2023) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
The Kennewick–Pasco–Richland metropolitan area—colloquially referred to as the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, and officially known as the Kennewick–Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area—is a metropolitan area consisting of Benton and Franklin counties in Washington state, anchored by the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland (the Tri-Cities).[2] As of 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of the metropolitan area to be 324,334, making it the third largest metropolitan area located entirely in Washington, after the Seattle metropolitan area and the Spokane metropolitan area.[3] Although it is located outside of the metropolitan area, the census-designated place (CDP) of Burbank (located in Walla Walla County) is part of the Tri-Cities urban area.[4]
The Tri-Cities metro area is a constituent piece of the Kennewick–Richland–Walla Walla, WA Combined Statistical Area, which consists of the Tri-Cities (Benton and Franklin Counties) along with the Walla Walla metropolitan area (Walla Walla County).[5]
Counties
Communities
The following are cities in the Kennewick–Richland, WA MSA categorized based on the United States Census Bureau 2025 population estimates.[6] No population estimates are released for census-designated places (CDPs), which are marked with an asterisk (*). These places are categorized based on their 2020 Census population.
Over 50,000 inhabitants
10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants
- West Richland (19,257)
5,000 to 9,999 inhabitants
5,000 inhabitants or fewer
- Benton City (4,019)
- West Pasco* (1,747)
- Basin City* (1,063)
- Mesa (391)
- Kahlotus (141)
Unincorporated places
Ghost towns
- Ainsworth
- Berrian
- East White Bluffs
- Gibbon
- Hanford (depopulated in March 1943)
- Horse Heaven
- White Bluffs (depopulated in March 1943)
- Yellepit
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 13,090 | — | |
| 1920 | 16,780 | 28.2% | |
| 1930 | 17,089 | 1.8% | |
| 1940 | 18,360 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 64,933 | 253.7% | |
| 1960 | 85,412 | 31.5% | |
| 1970 | 93,406 | 9.4% | |
| 1980 | 144,469 | 54.7% | |
| 1990 | 150,033 | 3.9% | |
| 2000 | 191,822 | 27.9% | |
| 2010 | 253,340 | 32.1% | |
| 2020 | 303,622 | 19.8% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 324,334 | 6.8% |
As of 2023, there were 314,253 people and 109,481 households residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 55% White, 36% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% Black, <1% Native, and <1% Islander.
The median income for a household in the MSA was $83,053. The per capita income for the MSA was $38,117.[7]
| County | Seat | 2025 estimate | 2020 census | Change | Land area | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | Prosser | 221,722 | 206,873 | +7.18% | 456 sq mi (1,180 km2) | 126/sq mi (49/km2) |
| Franklin | Pasco | 102,612 | 96,749 | +6.06% | 490 sq mi (1,300 km2) | 81/sq mi (31/km2) |
| Total | 324,334 | 303,622 | +6.82% | 3,025 sq mi (7,830 km2) | 107/sq mi (41/km2) |
Combined Statistical Area
The Kennewick–Richland–Walla Walla, WA Combined Statistical Area is made up of three counties in Eastern Washington. The combined statistical area includes two metropolitan areas.[5] It had a population of 366,206 at the 2020 census, increasing to an estimated 386,695 in 2025.[3] The CSA is the 105th largest in the United States.
| Statistical Area | 2025 estimate | 2020 Census | Change | Land area | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick–Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area | 324,334 | 303,622 | +6.82% | 3,025 sq mi (7,830 km2) | 107/sq mi (41/km2) |
| Walla Walla, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area | 62,361 | 62,584 | −0.36% | 1,299 sq mi (3,360 km2) | 48/sq mi (19/km2) |
| Total | 386,695 | 366,206 | +5.59% | 4,324 sq mi (11,200 km2) | 89/sq mi (35/km2) |
References
- ↑ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Kennewick-Richland, WA (MSA)". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
- ↑ "OMB BULLETIN NO. 23-01" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. p. 58. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
- 1 2 "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. May 26, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Tri-Cities urban area map" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- 1 2 "OMB BULLETIN NO. 23-01" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. p. 136. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
- ↑ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ "Kennewick-Richland, WA Metro Area". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2022-06-07.