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Living in
Spokane.
About
Life in Spokane
Living here means you're getting a genuinely affordable mid-sized city where your money actually stretches—median home values around $364,000 and rent under $1,200 a month put you well ahead of most Pacific Northwest markets, and that matters when you're actually paying bills every month. The trade-off is weather: winters are cold and snowy, summers hot and dry, and you're looking at a semi-arid climate that's pretty different from Western Washington's rain—but locals stay because of exactly that predictability and because you're genuinely close to mountains, lakes, and outdoor access without the constant drizzle. This is a city where people put down roots because it works—the cost of living, the jobs, the neighborly feel, and the genuine four-season outdoor life all align in a way that feels increasingly rare.
Spokane at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.8%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
91.9%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Spokane: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Spokane, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (11.8%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.4%
of households
Married Couples
38.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
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 31% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Spokane
In Spokane, rent runs 31% below the WA average, and home values are 36% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,947
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $392,803 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Spokane
Unemployment in Spokane is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Spokane Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.6 min avg
How Spokane residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Spokane, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 86% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Spokane runs 86% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
612.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,391.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Spokane 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 Spokane, 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
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Spokane County, which includes Spokane, 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
Climate83°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Spokane has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.4"
Annual Snowfall
45.4"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
123
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 26°F | 2.00" |
| Feb | 43°F | 27°F | 1.32" |
| Mar | 51°F | 32°F | 1.82" |
| Apr | 60°F | 37°F | 1.50" |
| May | 70°F | 44°F | 1.70" |
| Jun | 76°F | 50°F | 1.48" |
| Jul | 87°F | 56°F | 0.67" |
| Aug | 86°F | 55°F | 0.54" |
| Sep | 76°F | 47°F | 0.68" |
| Oct | 60°F | 38°F | 1.46" |
| Nov | 45°F | 31°F | 2.01" |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 2.18" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 3.3/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Spokane
Spokane has 6 hospitals, averaging 3.3 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
5.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.3 / 5
Spokane VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Deaconess Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Prov Sacred Hrt Med Ctr & Childs Hosp.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Providence Holy Family Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Multicare Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Spokane Valley
Eastern State Hospital
Psychiatric · 13.7 mi away · Medical Lake
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.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Spokane
Spokane's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
71
within city limits
Private Schools
21
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Spokane
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,198 students · in-state tuition $57,250 · 88% graduate · median earnings $89,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,533 students · in-state tuition $5,625 · 47% graduate · median earnings $46,919 (10 yrs after entry)
Spokane Falls Community College
Public · 2-year · 3,199 students · in-state tuition $5,625 · 38% graduate · median earnings $42,786 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 6,222 students · in-state tuition $8,886 · 58% graduate · median earnings $62,463 (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, 55 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Spokane
Spokane has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (55 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
55 mi awayPublic Libraries in Spokane
Central Library
906 W. Main Ave., Spokane
Hillyard Branch Library
4110 N. Cook, Spokane
Indian Trail Branch Library
4909 W. Barnes Road, Spokane
Liberty Park Library
402 S Pittsburg St, Spokane
Shadle Branch Library
2111 W. Wellesley, Spokane
South Hill Branch Library
3324 S. Perry, Spokane
Compare Spokane
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Spokane
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Spokane?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Spokane FAQ
Is Spokane, Washington affordable?⌄
Spokane's median rent is $1,215/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $70,064/year. Median home value is $363,500.
Is Spokane, Washington safe?⌄
Spokane's violent crime rate was 613 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4392 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Spokane, Washington?⌄
Spokane has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Spokane, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Spokane is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,215/month and median household income is $70,064/year. The median home value is $363,500. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Spokane, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Spokane is 21 minutes, which is shorter than 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