Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 12 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Yuma
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $7,171 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
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
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Yuma
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($186,500 vs $307,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $147/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,175)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $7,171/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$7,171
$66,483 vs $59,312/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
43% lower
242.1 vs 423.6 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$121k less
$186,500 vs $307,700
Yuma
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 12 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 11 and Yuma wins 12. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $186,500 median home), income ($66,483 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Yuma, AZ are about 1,056 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.