Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Spokane Valley
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $27,705 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
Homes cost $34k less ($307,700 vs $341,700)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $27,705/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$27,705
$94,188 vs $66,483/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
31% lower
166.8 vs 242.1 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$34k less
$307,700 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 103,761 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories. Buckeye 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 Buckeye to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $307,700 median home), income ($94,188 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,012 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.