COUNTY REPORT WA

Benton County, Washington

9 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Benton County: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Compared to top-scoring counties, Benton County's 9 ZIP codes land in the middle tier - some meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and the gap between the best and worst areas is wider than average.

How Benton County Compares

Benton County66/100
Washington avg86/100
National avg73/100

How Benton County Compares

C
County Grade
66/100
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
12
Water Systems

Benton County scores 20 points below the Washington state average (86/100) and 7 points below the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

C
County Grade
66
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 99353 (76/100)
Lowest ZIP: 99320 (59/100)
$355K
Median Home Value
$1,933
Avg Remediation (54% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Benton County, Washington

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 11.7 (asthma 10.8%, diabetes 10.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,460, driven primarily by flood

47.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Benton County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2022
9 (9 health)
2023
16 (16 health)
2024
4 (4 health)

Peak year: 2023 with 16 violations. Past 5 years: 31 total (31 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window - worth closer monitoring.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.2% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1985
Median Build Year
47.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
36/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
22%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Moderate
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,460

Flood $886/yr
Energy Code Gap $310/yr
Wildfire $300/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

68,463 housing units in Benton County

Pre-1940 3%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 26%
1980–1999 22%
2000+ 31%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Benton County

$355K
Median Home Value
$1,933
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Benton County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Benton County residents

Asthma 10.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.2% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems serving Benton County

8 community water systems serving Benton County.

Show all 8 water systems

12 total water systems serve Benton County.

Systems with the most violations in Benton County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Benton County

9 ZIP codes tracked in Benton County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 99353 West Richland 76 B 22 $408K
2 99350 Prosser 74 B 29 $289K
3 99354 Richland 67 C 0 $355K
4 99336 Kennewick 66 C 2 $292K
5 99338 Kennewick 61 C 39 (7 health) $527K
6 99352 Richland 61 C 39 (7 health) $442K
7 99320 Benton City 59 C 24 $300K
8 99345 Paterson $422K
9 99346 Plymouth $215K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Benton County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Benton County in Washington covers 9 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100) across 7 scored records.

6 of 7 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 7 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Washington Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Benton County?
Benton County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Benton County?
Benton County is served by 12 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 9 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Benton County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Benton County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,460 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Benton County?
The median home build year in Benton County is 1985. 47.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Benton County compare to Washington?
Benton County has an average Home Safety Score of 66/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Washington state average of 86/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Benton County, WA: HSS 66/100; PFAS Found in Water. https://zipcheckup.com/county/washington/benton/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-washington-benton,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Benton County, WA: HSS 66/100; PFAS Found in Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/washington/benton/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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