Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Spokane
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $28,976 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Spokane
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($286,900 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $804/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,864)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $28,976/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$28,976
$92,292 vs $63,316/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
50% lower
339.2 vs 674.9 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$290k less
$286,900 vs $576,800
Spokane
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories. Renton wins 10 and Spokane 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 Renton to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $286,900 median home), income ($92,292 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Spokane, WA are about 222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.