Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
13
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($236,500 vs $307,700)
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $12,178/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
55% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $12,178 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,402)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than New Haven
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$71k less
$236,500 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$12,178
$66,483 vs $54,305/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
55% lower
242.1 vs 534.8 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 10 and Spokane Valley wins 13. 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 New Haven to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($54,305 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Spokane Valley, WA are about 2,196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.