Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
San Francisco
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,206 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1041k less ($307,700 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1141/mo less ($1,175 vs $2,316)
59% less violent crime than San Francisco
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $70,206/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$70,206
$136,689 vs $66,483/yr
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
59% lower
242.1 vs 596.5 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$1041k less
$307,700 vs $1,348,700
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
25.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. San Francisco wins 9 and Spokane Valley wins 14. 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 San Francisco to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $307,700 median home), income ($136,689 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 746 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.