Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $52,752 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $593k less ($286,900 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $885/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,945)
13% less violent crime than Seattle
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $52,752/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
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$52,752
$116,068 vs $63,316/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Violent Crime
13% lower
674.9 vs 775.1 per 100k
Spokane
Median Home Value
$593k less
$286,900 vs $879,900
Spokane
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 9 and Spokane 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 Seattle to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $286,900 median home), income ($116,068 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Spokane, WA are about 229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.