Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($141,900 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,175)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $15,991/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Households earn $15,991 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$166k less
$141,900 vs $307,700
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$15,991
$66,483 vs $50,492/yr
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Augusta-Richmond County wins 10 and Spokane Valley wins 10. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $307,700 median home), income ($50,492 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 2,070 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Columbus, GA
Spokane Valley, WA vs Spokane, WA
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Macon-Bibb County, GA
Spokane Valley, WA vs Renton, WA
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Savannah, GA
Spokane Valley, WA vs Federal Way, WA
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Athens-Clarke County, GA
Spokane Valley, WA vs Yakima, WA