Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 16 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Spokane
Washington
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,302 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($286,900 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $793/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,853)
27% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $23,302/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
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$23,302
$86,618 vs $63,316/yr
Spokane
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Violent Crime
27% lower
674.9 vs 923.1 per 100k
Spokane
Median Home Value
$338k less
$286,900 vs $624,800
Spokane
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Spokane
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 16 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 7 and Spokane wins 16. 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 Richmond to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $286,900 median home), income ($86,618 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Spokane, WA are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.