Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($159,300 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($976 vs $1,175)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $10,773/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
13% less violent crime than El Paso
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,773 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than El Paso
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$148k less
$159,300 vs $307,700
El Paso
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$10,773
$66,483 vs $55,710/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
13% lower
242.1 vs 278.4 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Spokane Valley wins 8. 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 El Paso to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $307,700 median home), income ($55,710 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.