Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 12 of 22 categories
Sparks
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
12
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.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $16,455 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Sparks
Homes cost $116k less ($307,700 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $16,455/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
Sparks
Median Income
$16,455
$82,938 vs $66,483/yr
Sparks
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
39% lower
242.1 vs 394.4 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$116k less
$307,700 vs $423,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 12 of 22 categories. Sparks wins 10 and Spokane Valley wins 12. 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 Sparks to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($82,938 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Spokane Valley, WA are about 572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.