Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Independence leads 12 of 22 categories
Independence
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Spokane
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($150,800 vs $286,900)
15% less violent crime than Spokane
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Spokane by $5,901/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,901 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Independence
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
15% lower
571.2 vs 674.9 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$136k less
$150,800 vs $286,900
Spokane
Median Income
$5,901
$63,316 vs $57,415/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Independence is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Independence leads 12 of 22 categories. Independence wins 12 and Spokane wins 10. 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 Independence to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $286,900 median home), income ($57,415 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Spokane, WA are about 1,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.