Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922
St. Louis
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane, WA
Pros
51% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $10,375 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($174,100 vs $286,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($938 vs $1,060)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane by $10,375/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Median Income
$10,375
$63,316 vs $52,941/yr
Spokane
Violent Crime
51% lower
674.9 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$113k less
$174,100 vs $286,900
St. Louis
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories. Spokane wins 11 and St. Louis 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 to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($63,316 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and St. Louis, MO are about 1,496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.