Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 12 of 21 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
12
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($139,600 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,175)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $18,393/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
90% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $18,393 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
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
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Memphis
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$168k less
$139,600 vs $307,700
Memphis
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$18,393
$66,483 vs $48,090/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
90% lower
242.1 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 12 of 21 categories. Memphis wins 9 and Spokane Valley wins 12. 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 Memphis to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $307,700 median home), income ($48,090 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.