This Tri-City bedroom community was named to a list of the 10 best small towns to live in the U.S. published by Travel + Leisure.

The towns were ranked by real estate experts.  

West Richland made the second slot on the list, with Tri-Cities Realtor Cari McGee highlighting the city’s rapid growth and safety. “West Richland is growing faster than any of our local towns. New developments are going up, new schools are being built, and new shopping and restaurants are following,” she said in the listing.  

West Richland has a population of 18,430 according to an April 1, 2025, population estimate from Washington state’s Office of Financial Management, a 13.1% increase from 2020, when the population was 16,295.  

The city is much smaller than Richland, with a population of 64,920, or Kennewick, which boasts a population of 87,790.   

Several established restaurants recently have made plans to set up shop in West Richland, from a self-serve taproom to a sushi restaurant. 

Like the Tri-Cities region as a whole, part of West Richland’s appeal is better weather and lower average home prices compared to Seattle, noted McGee.