What are the schools like in Spanaway, WA?

Spanaway is served primarily by Bethel School District. The district operates 22 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.5:1.

What is the median household income in Spanaway?

The median household income in Spanaway, WA is $91,346 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in Spanaway, WA?

Spanaway has an average high temperature of 46.1°F in January and 75.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 5.6 inches.

Spanaway, WA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Spanaway, WA affordable or expensive?

Spanaway's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Spanaway is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $360,400 and the median rent is $1,644 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Spanaway, WA?

Spanaway has a violent crime rate of 545.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3238.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Spanaway, WA a Good Place to Live?

Spanaway is a small city of 34,015 in Washington, with a median household income of $91,346 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Spanaway's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Spanaway is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Spanaway city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 113.0

Spanaway's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Spanaway costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Spanaway, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$360,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,644	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$91,346	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Spanaway's violent crime rate is 545.2 per 100,000 residents — 43% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

545.2 /100k

Property Crime

3238.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Spanaway is served primarily by Bethel School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Spanaway, WA	National Avg
School District	Bethel School District	—
Elementary Schools	22	—
Middle Schools	6	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Spanaway sees average highs of 46.1°F in January and 75.7°F in July, with 42.9 inches of annual precipitation and 5.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Spanaway, WA
Average High — January	46.1°F
Average High — July	75.7°F
Annual Precipitation	42.9"
Annual Snowfall	5.6"

Demographics

Metric	Spanaway, WA	National Avg
Population	34,015	—
Median Age	32.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	38.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	55.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.7%	18.9%
Asian	6.8%	6.3%
Under 18	28.2%	22.2%
65 and over	9.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Frederickson, WA 3 mi Parkland, WA 3 mi Clover Creek, WA 4 mi McChord AFB, WA 4 mi Summit View, WA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Spanaway

Spanaway, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98387

Spanaway vs Other Cities

Spanaway, WA vs Frederickson, WA Spanaway, WA vs Parkland, WA Spanaway, WA vs Clover Creek, WA Spanaway, WA vs McChord AFB, WA Spanaway, WA vs Summit View, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Spanaway, WA affordable or expensive?

Spanaway's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Spanaway roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $360,400 and median rent is $1,644/month.

What is the crime rate in Spanaway, WA?

Spanaway's violent crime rate is 545.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3238.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Spanaway?

Public schools in Spanaway are operated by Bethel School District. The district has 22 elementary, 6 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.5:1. 13.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Spanaway, WA a good place to live?

Spanaway, WA has a population of 34,015, a median household income of $91,346, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Spanaway?

Spanaway averages 46.1°F in January and 75.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.9 inches with about 5.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Spanaway?

Spanaway, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98387.

What is the population of Spanaway?

The population of Spanaway, Washington is 34,015 with a median age of 32.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Spanaway?

Key numbers for living in Spanaway: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $360,400, median household income $91,346, crime index 148 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Spanaway side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.