Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
5
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $58,134 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($307,700 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $774/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,949)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $58,134/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$58,134
$124,617 vs $66,483/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
29% lower
172.8 vs 242.1 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$279k less
$307,700 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 18 and Spokane Valley wins 5. 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 Centennial to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Spokane Valley, WA are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.