Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Bellevue leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $83,068 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $832k less ($307,700 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1247/mo less ($1,175 vs $2,422)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $83,068/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.0%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$83,068
$149,551 vs $66,483/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
43% lower
138.6 vs 242.1 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$832k less
$307,700 vs $1,139,500
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 13 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 Bellevue to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($149,551 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.