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). 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. 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.
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).
Counties Benton Franklin
Communities The following are cities in the Kennewick–Richland, WA MSA categorized based on the United States Census Bureau 2025 population estimates. 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 Kennewick (principal city) (88,366) Pasco (82,848) Richland (principal city) (65,258)
10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants West Richland (19,257)
5,000 to 9,999 inhabitants Prosser (6,654) Finley* (6,152) Connell (5,080)
5,000 inhabitants or fewer Benton City (4,019) West Pasco* (1,747) Basin City* (1,063) Mesa (391) Kahlotus (141)
Unincorporated places
Badger Eltopia Grosscup (now part of West Richland) Harder Highland Kiona Longview North Prosser Paterson Plymouth Whitstran
Ghost towns Ainsworth Berrian East White Bluffs Gibbon Hanford (depopulated in March 1943) Horse Heaven White Bluffs (depopulated in March 1943) Yellepit
Demographics
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.
CountySeat2025 estimate2020 censusChangeLand areaDensityBentonProsser FranklinPasco Total
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. It had a population of 366,206 at the 2020 census, increasing to an estimated 386,695 in 2025. The CSA is the 105th largest in the United States. Statistical Area2025 estimate2020 CensusChangeLand areaDensityKennewick–Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical AreaWalla Walla, WA Metropolitan Statistical AreaTotal
References