Spokane vs Walla Walla
Spokane, Washington versus Walla Walla, Washington: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Walla Walla edges out Spokane on overall objective livability (58 vs 53 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Spokane | Walla Walla |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $63k | $58k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $46k |
| Home Value | $287k | $315k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.88% | 0.92% |
| Income Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.38% | 9.38% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 7.09% | 8.04% |
| Unemployment | 6.2% | 6.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 36°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4 in | 17.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4 in | 9.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 184 days | 258 days |
| Summer Humidity | 44°F | 46°F |
| Comfortable Days | 66 days | 77 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 14.6 | 39.8 |
| Air Quality | 46 AQI | 38 AQI |
| School Quality | 97.4 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 2609/100k | 976/100k |
| Property Crime | 5771/100k | 3077/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 227,922 | 33,842 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.32 | 0.42 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 1.07 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 79.6% | 66.6% |
| Black (%) | 2.6% | 2.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.2% | 23.6% |
| Asian (%) | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 8.1% | 4.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 13 min |
| Walkability | 15.7/20 | 10.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 5 mi | 114 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.5% | 85.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 23.12 | 29.25 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: 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 Spokane or Walla Walla more affordable?
- Spokane has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Spokane's $45k and Walla Walla's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Spokane versus $1k in Walla Walla.
- Is Spokane or Walla Walla safer?
- Walla Walla has the lower violent crime rate. Spokane reports 2609/100k and Walla Walla reports 976/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Spokane or Walla Walla?
- The median home value is $287k in Spokane and $315k in Walla Walla, so homes are more affordable in Spokane.