Pasco
RANK #774 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 21 WA · POP 98,902
1YR FORECAST: -1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +15%
Franklin County, Washington, stands out as the fastest-growing county in the Pacific Northwest, notably becoming the first in the region with a Hispanic-majority population. Located in south-central Washington, at the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, the county seat of Pasco is part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, which also includes Richland and Kennewick across the Columbia River. This area offers a mix of urban amenities and access to outdoor recreation, including riverside trails along the Columbia River and the striking Palouse Falls State Park, home to Washington's official waterfall. Commute options within the Tri-Cities are supported by Ben Franklin Transit, offering fixed-route bus services and other transportation solutions.
Life in Franklin County is characterized by a relatively affordable cost of living compared to the state average, though median home values are higher than the national average. The economy, traditionally rooted in agriculture, has diversified to include food processing and manufacturing, with major food processing companies located in Pasco. The county's population growth continues to drive demand for services, including in education and healthcare. Franklin County's public school system serves a large student body across several districts, including Pasco School District and North Franklin School District.
Franklin County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.4% YoY, population +1.3%, wages +3.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Franklin County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Gateway Digital Campus & Beltline Energy Data Centers
Undisclosed Developers (supported by L.B. Eckelkamp, Jr. of Bank of Washington)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Amazon National Inbound Cross Dock
Amazon
|
$107M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 22/100, Franklin County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $86,714 combined with job growth of +1.0% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Franklin County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $379,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,198/month on average.
Franklin County's population is growing — up +1.3% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +1.0%). Home values shifted +0.4% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.8% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Franklin County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.