What it's like to live in Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake is a small city in Washington with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Liberty Lake deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 45" per year
How Liberty Lake compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Liberty Lake
Based on Liberty Lake's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,790
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $75,800 a year
- 44% of Liberty Lake renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$115,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $57,750
- Homes cost 4.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 34% above US
$1,895/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,895 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $577,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $577,500 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Spokane County is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Spokane County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 60% below US
132 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1324/100k · Liberty Lake Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 28% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 35% above US
49% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 49% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (67 miles away).
Bottom line
Liberty Lake's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,895/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (28% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Liberty Lake
All Washington guides →Moving to Spokane Valley →
6 mi away · pop. 106,365
Rent $1,353/mo · Income $74,042
Compare with Liberty Lake →Moving to Spokane →
15 mi away · pop. 230,293
Rent $1,215/mo · Income $70,064
Compare with Liberty Lake →Moving to Fairwood CDP (Spokane County) →
16 mi away · pop. 10,674
Rent $1,208/mo · Income $91,988
Compare with Liberty Lake →Moving to Airway Heights →
22 mi away · pop. 11,245
Rent $1,389/mo · Income $62,874
Compare with Liberty Lake →Not sure Liberty Lake is the one?
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