Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 12 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ 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.
Providence, RI
Pros
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $5,118/yr
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Providence
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,118 more per year on average
Cons
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
Providence
Median Home Value
$15k less
$293,000 vs $307,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.9 on the COL index
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$5,118
$66,483 vs $61,365/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
13% lower
242.1 vs 276.7 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Providence is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Providence wins 11 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 Providence to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $307,700 median home), income ($61,365 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Spokane Valley, WA are about 2,250 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.