Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $108k less ($307,700 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,489)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $12,602/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $12,602 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
77% lower
242.1 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$108k less
$307,700 vs $415,300
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$12,602
$79,085 vs $66,483/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 15 and Tacoma wins 8. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($66,483 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Tacoma, WA are about 246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.