Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Spokane
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $19,470 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($286,900 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,665)
14% less violent crime than Lakewood
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $19,470/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$19,470
$82,786 vs $63,316/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Violent Crime
14% lower
674.9 vs 787.2 per 100k
Spokane
Median Home Value
$207k less
$286,900 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 9 and Spokane wins 14. 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 Lakewood to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $286,900 median home), income ($82,786 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Spokane, WA are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.