Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 17 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($307,700 vs $582,400)
57% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Rent averages $194/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,369)
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$2,364
$66,483 vs $64,119/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
57% lower
242.1 vs 558.4 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$275k less
$307,700 vs $582,400
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 17 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 6 and Spokane Valley wins 17. 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 East Los Angeles to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $307,700 median home), income ($64,119 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.