Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($251,300 vs $307,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,253 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,297)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Arlington by $5,253/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$5,253
$71,736 vs $66,483/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$56k less
$251,300 vs $307,700
Arlington
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
50% lower
242.1 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Spokane Valley wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $307,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.