Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 15 of 21 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,312)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Households earn $3,472 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Worcester, MA
Pros
93% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $3,472/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Spokane Valley
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$3,472
$66,483 vs $63,011/yr
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
93% lower
16.5 vs 242.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 15 of 21 categories. Spokane Valley wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $305,600 median home), income ($66,483 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Worcester, MA are about 2,219 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.