Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Households earn $15,895 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($174,100 vs $286,900)
37% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Spokane by $15,895/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Median Income
$15,895
$63,316 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
37% lower
425.9 vs 674.9 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$113k less
$174,100 vs $286,900
Waco
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Spokane wins 10 and Waco wins 13. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($63,316 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and Waco, TX are about 1,540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.