Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Spokane Valley
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($162,000 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($917 vs $1,175)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $14,960/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $14,960 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Roanoke
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$146k less
$162,000 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$14,960
$66,483 vs $51,523/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
61% lower
242.1 vs 620.4 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 103,761 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 12 and Spokane Valley 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 Roanoke to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $307,700 median home), income ($51,523 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 2,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.