Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
13
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($235,000 vs $307,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $6,043/yr
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Houston
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,043 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
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
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$73k less
$235,000 vs $307,700
Houston
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$6,043
$66,483 vs $60,440/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
79% lower
242.1 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Houston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 10 and Spokane Valley wins 13. 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 Houston to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $307,700 median home), income ($60,440 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.