Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,749 more per year on average
More college-educated — 25.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($243,300 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,175)
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $10,749/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$10,749
$66,483 vs $55,734/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
56% lower
242.1 vs 544.3 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Median Home Value
$64k less
$243,300 vs $307,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 14 and Yakima wins 9. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($66,483 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Yakima, WA are about 173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.