Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Spokane, 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
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
75% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $30,872 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
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, WA
Pros
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Homes cost $55k less ($286,900 vs $341,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $30,872/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$30,872
$94,188 vs $63,316/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
75% lower
166.8 vs 674.9 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Home Value
$55k less
$286,900 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Spokane, 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 | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Spokane'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 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 or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $286,900 median home), income ($94,188 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Spokane, WA are about 1,015 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.