Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richardson, TX
Pros
39% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
Households earn $27,879 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $72k less ($307,700 vs $379,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $27,879/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Median Income
$27,879
$94,362 vs $66,483/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
39% lower
146.7 vs 242.1 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$72k less
$307,700 vs $379,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 13 and Spokane Valley wins 10. 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 Richardson to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $307,700 median home), income ($94,362 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.