Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,609 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Phoenix
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $147/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,322)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Homes cost $33k less ($307,700 vs $340,200)
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Phoenix by $5,609/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$5,609
$72,092 vs $66,483/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
70% lower
242.1 vs 799.6 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$33k less
$307,700 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 14 and Spokane Valley 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 Phoenix to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $307,700 median home), income ($72,092 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,010 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.