Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Irving leads 14 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
9
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Homes cost $48k less ($259,500 vs $307,700)
Households earn $10,203 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Irving
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,423)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Median income trails Irving by $10,203/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$10,203
$76,686 vs $66,483/yr
Irving
Median Home Value
$48k less
$259,500 vs $307,700
Irving
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
12% lower
242.1 vs 275.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 14 of 23 categories. Irving wins 14 and Spokane Valley wins 9. 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 Irving to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($76,686 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.