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Living in
Cheney.
About
Life in Cheney
Cheney is a community of 12,830 people in Washington. The median household income is $54,503, median rent runs about $1,156 per month, and median home values are around $395,900. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.
Cheney at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
24.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
31.3%
Foreign-Born
5.5%
Broadband Internet
91.2%
of households
Population Growth
-4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.5% foreign-born, most often from Saudi Arabia
Who lives in Cheney: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cheney, the largest foreign-born group is from Saudi Arabia (34.3%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.3%
of residents
65 and Older
11.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.2%
of households
Married Couples
33.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.38
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 34% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Cheney
In Cheney, rent runs 34% below the WA average, and home values are 30% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,251
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
34.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $415,627 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Cheney
Unemployment in Spokane County, which includes Cheney, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Cheney: Spokane County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Spokane County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Cheney is about 2% of Spokane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Cheney Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.4 min avg
How Cheney residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cheney, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Spokane International Airport (GEG)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Cheney runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
279
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,665.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Cheney Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Spokane County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Spokane County, which includes Cheney, the most common type is heavy snow, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Wildfire | $26,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | Heavy Snow | $12,000 |
| 2023 | 23 | Wildfire | $14,250 |
| 2022 | 32 | Heavy Snow | $456,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 28 | Heavy Snow | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Heavy Snow | $273,500 |
| 2018 | 19 | Heavy Snow | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Spokane County, county-wide
Cheney is about 2% of Spokane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Spokane County, which includes Cheney, is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Spokane County, county-wide
Cheney is about 2% of Spokane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cheney has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/43°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/29°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.3"
Annual Snowfall
45.4"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
186
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 22°F | 2.19" |
| Feb | 40°F | 22°F | 1.72" |
| Mar | 49°F | 27°F | 2.12" |
| Apr | 57°F | 32°F | 1.49" |
| May | 67°F | 38°F | 1.74" |
| Jun | 73°F | 42°F | 1.30" |
| Jul | 84°F | 45°F | 0.33" |
| Aug | 84°F | 43°F | 0.35" |
| Sep | 74°F | 35°F | 0.52" |
| Oct | 59°F | 29°F | 1.56" |
| Nov | 43°F | 25°F | 2.43" |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 2.59" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cheney
Uninsured
9.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cheney's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Eastern State Hospital
Psychiatric · 7.8 mi away · Medical Lake
Shriners Hospital for Children
Childrens · 13.2 mi away · Spokane
Prov Sacred Hrt Med Ctr & Childs Hosp.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Spokane
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cheney
Cheney's student/teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 38.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Cheney
Public · 4-year · 6,222 students · in-state tuition $8,886 · 58% graduate · median earnings $62,463 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,198 students · in-state tuition $57,250 · 88% graduate · median earnings $89,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Spokane Falls Community College
14 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,199 students · in-state tuition $5,625 · 38% graduate · median earnings $42,786 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, 59 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cheney
Cheney has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (59 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
59 mi awayIce Age Floods National Geologic Trail
National Geologic Trail
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cheney
Cheney Library
610 First Street, Cheney
Cities Near Cheney
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cheney?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cheney FAQ
Is Cheney, Washington affordable?⌄
Cheney's median rent is $1,156/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,503/year. Median home value is $395,900.
Is Cheney, Washington safe?⌄
Cheney's violent crime rate was 279 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1666 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cheney, Washington?⌄
Spokane County, which includes Cheney, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cheney, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Cheney is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,156/month and median household income is $54,503/year. The median home value is $395,900. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cheney, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Cheney is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from