Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,190 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Chicago
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $139/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,314)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chicago by $5,190/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$5,190
$71,673 vs $66,483/yr
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
55% lower
242.1 vs 539.8 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 9 and Spokane Valley wins 14. 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 Chicago to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,495 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.