Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Sparks
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
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.
Sparks, NV
Pros
42% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $19,622 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
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($286,900 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,526)
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sparks by $19,622/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Median Income
$19,622
$82,938 vs $63,316/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
42% lower
394.4 vs 674.9 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$137k less
$286,900 vs $423,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Spokane, 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 | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Sparks wins 11 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 Sparks to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $286,900 median home), income ($82,938 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Spokane, WA are about 571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.