Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 16 of 22 categories
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
16
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,483 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($307,700 vs $478,400)
51% less violent crime than Kent
Rent averages $567/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,742)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $20,483/yr
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
Kent
Median Income
$20,483
$86,966 vs $66,483/yr
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
51% lower
242.1 vs 489.7 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$171k less
$307,700 vs $478,400
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 16 of 22 categories. Kent wins 6 and Spokane Valley wins 16. 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 Kent to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $307,700 median home), income ($86,966 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.