Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Rent averages $647/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,822)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $45k less ($307,700 vs $352,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $21,273/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Surprise, AZ
Pros
55% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
Households earn $21,273 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$45k less
$307,700 vs $352,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 101.0 on the COL index
Surprise
Median Income
$21,273
$87,756 vs $66,483/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
55% lower
109.1 vs 242.1 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 6 and Surprise wins 17. 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 Spokane Valley to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $352,600 median home), income ($66,483 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Surprise, AZ are about 998 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.