Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Spokane
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
46% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $27,132 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $27,132/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$27,132
$90,448 vs $63,316/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
46% lower
364.9 vs 674.9 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Midland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 14 and Spokane 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 Midland to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $286,900 median home), income ($90,448 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Spokane, WA are about 1,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.