Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $465/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,525)
Homes cost $117k less ($286,900 vs $403,400)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vancouver by $10,310/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Vancouver, WA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $10,310 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$117k less
$286,900 vs $403,400
Spokane
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$10,310
$73,626 vs $63,316/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
14% lower
582.3 vs 674.9 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories. Spokane wins 13 and Vancouver wins 10. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $403,400 median home), income ($63,316 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and Vancouver, WA are about 282 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.