Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Spokane
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Median income trails Spokane by $3,710/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,227)
Homes cost $21k less ($286,900 vs $308,300)
Households earn $3,710 more per year on average
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Richmond
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
50% lower
336.9 vs 674.9 per 100k
Spokane
Median Income
$3,710
$63,316 vs $59,606/yr
Spokane
Median Home Value
$21k less
$286,900 vs $308,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 12 and Spokane wins 11. 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 ($308,300 vs $286,900 median home), income ($59,606 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Spokane, WA are about 2,122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.