Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ 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.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($171,600 vs $307,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$136k less
$171,600 vs $307,700
Pasadena
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$1,785
$66,483 vs $64,698/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
57% lower
242.1 vs 566.1 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $307,700 median home), income ($64,698 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,711 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.