Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Knoxville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
11
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($184,200 vs $307,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $132/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,175)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $18,174/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $18,174 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$124k less
$184,200 vs $307,700
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$18,174
$66,483 vs $48,309/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
67% lower
242.1 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Knoxville wins 11 and Spokane Valley wins 11. 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 Knoxville to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $307,700 median home), income ($48,309 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.