Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $23,240 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($286,900 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $489/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $23,240/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$23,240
$86,556 vs $63,316/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
31% lower
466.9 vs 674.9 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Home Value
$175k less
$286,900 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and Spokane wins 9. 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 Austin to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $286,900 median home), income ($86,556 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Spokane, WA are about 1,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.