Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Spokane leads 12 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($286,900 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1102/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 23 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $48,401/yr
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%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,401 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Spokane
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$330k less
$286,900 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$48,401
$111,717 vs $63,316/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
55% lower
301.4 vs 674.9 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 12 of 23 categories. Spokane wins 12 and Tracy wins 11. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $617,300 median home), income ($63,316 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and Tracy, CA are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.