Pierce County vs Spokane County
Pierce County, Washington versus Spokane County, Washington: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Pierce County and Spokane County score about the same overall (47 vs 50 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Pierce County | Spokane County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $91k | $70k |
| Cost of Living | $56k | $45k |
| Home Value | $445k | $332k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.98% | 0.90% |
| Income Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.38% | 9.38% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 7.86% | 7.32% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 5.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 42°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 67°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1 in | 19.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.0 in | 45.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 212 days | 220 days |
| Summer Humidity | 52°F | 46°F |
| Comfortable Days | 116 days | 60 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 98.5 | 90.0 |
| Air Quality | 42 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 77.4 | 76.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1331/100k | 1567/100k |
| Property Crime | 4481/100k | 3780/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 918,993 | 538,711 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.51 | 0.27 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.01 | 1.00 |
| Political Leaning | D+12 | Even |
| White (%) | 63.7% | 82.4% |
| Black (%) | 6.8% | 1.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 11.9% | 6.5% |
| Asian (%) | 6.5% | 2.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 11.2% | 7.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 32 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 9.9/20 | 11.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 28 mi | 5 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 92.7% | 90.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.47 | 10.27 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Pierce County or Spokane County more affordable?
- Spokane County has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Pierce County's $56k and Spokane County's $45k. Median rent is $2k in Pierce County versus $1k in Spokane County.
- Is Pierce County or Spokane County safer?
- Pierce County has the lower violent crime rate. Pierce County reports 1331/100k and Spokane County reports 1567/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Pierce County or Spokane County?
- The median home value is $445k in Pierce County and $332k in Spokane County, so homes are more affordable in Spokane County.