Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 13 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
West Covina
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($307,700 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($1,175 vs $2,054)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $29,736/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,736 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Spokane Valley
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$357k less
$307,700 vs $664,500
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$29,736
$96,219 vs $66,483/yr
West Covina
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 108,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 13 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 10 and West Covina wins 13. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($66,483 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and West Covina, CA are about 941 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.