Living in Spokane, WA
Spokane is the 103rd-largest city in the US, home to about 231,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (100.3 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 230,783+0.8% since 2020
- Median home value
- $363,5005.2 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,215/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $70,064median, per year
- Price level
- 100.3US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 35° / 84°lows 25° / 58°
- Average commute
- 21 min15% work from home
- State income tax
- Noneon wages
Been to Spokane?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
Added to the wishlist on your city passport.
County: Spokane County
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Elevation: about 1,873 ft
Metro area: Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Cost of living in Spokane
The median home in Spokane is worth $363,500 and the median household earns $70,064 a year, so a typical home costs about 5.2 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,215 a month, about 21% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area at 100.3, with housing at 97.1 and goods at 105.0 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $75,300 here. Washington has no state income tax on wages. The average combined state and local sales tax in Washington is 9.57%.
What would my salary be worth in Spokane?
Spokane weather
Average highs run from 34°F in January to 84°F in July, and January nights average 25°F. It gets 16 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 45 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 132 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to September.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Spokane
People and work
The median resident is 37.2 years old, and 34% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 59% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 21 minutes; 15% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 37.2321st youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 34%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 59%of households
- People per sq mile
- 3,35668.8 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 3%4% walk, 0.7% bike
- Unemployment
- 5.7%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 13.8%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1961median year
Who moves to Spokane, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Seattle (King County), Everett (Snohomish County) and Tacoma (Pierce County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Seattle (King County), Phoenix (Maricopa County) and Tacoma (Pierce County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA rating for Spokane County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: ice storm, winter weather, strong wind, cold wave.
Home prices
+0% in a year
Up 29% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
56% good days
10 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Spokane
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Eastern Washington University 13 miles
- Gonzaga University 2 miles
- Spokane Community College 4 miles
- Spokane Falls Community College 2 miles
- North Idaho College 29 miles
- Whitworth University 7 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Spokane
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane International Airport GEG | 5 mi | 2,064,142 |
| Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport PUW | 65 mi | 64,580 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Spokane
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington University | 13 mi | 6,222 | $13,647 | 43% |
| Gonzaga University | 2 mi | 5,198 | $32,750 | 85% |
| Spokane Community College | 4 mi | 4,533 | $20,482 | n/a |
| Spokane Falls Community College | 2 mi | 3,199 | $19,537 | n/a |
| Whitworth University | 7 mi | 1,858 | $23,009 | 67% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Spokane
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 26, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 1 and the first frost comes around October 12.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Spokane Intl. Airport, WA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Spokane.
Wildfire smoke in Spokane
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Spokane on about 83 days a year, including about 35 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Spokane
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 97,446 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Spokane
Downtown Spokane is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane Public Schools | Pre-K to 12 | 28,853 | 68 | 14.8 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Central Valley School District (15,025 students), Mead School District (10,657 students), Cheney School District (5,662 students), East Valley School District (Spokane) (3,601 students), West Valley School District (Spokane) (3,475 students), Medical Lake School District (1,842 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Spokane's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Spokane's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Billings, MT72% matchCompare
- Ogden, UT70% matchCompare
- Cheyenne, WY70% matchCompare
- Farmington Hills, MI66% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Spokane
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Spokane
- Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park 24 miles
- 49 Degrees North Ski Area 45 miles
- North-South Ski Bowl 54 miles
- Silver Mountain 61 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Spokane
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Washington has no state income tax on wages.
- Data Commutes are short: 21 minutes each way on average.
Cons
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.57% on average with local taxes.
- Data Winters are snowy: about 45 inches a year.
Spokane report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Spokane report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate Spokane (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about Spokane
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Spokane can answer.
Spokane through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near Spokane
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane Valley, WA | 9 mi | 108,405 | $382,300 | 100.3 | Compare |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 30 mi | 58,179 | $483,500 | 98.3 | Compare |
| Pasco, WA | 125 mi | 82,848 | $376,300 | 100.1 | Compare |
| Kennewick, WA | 131 mi | 88,366 | $370,700 | 100.1 | Compare |
| Yakima, WA | 165 mi | 97,458 | $297,600 | 95.5 | Compare |
| Missoula, MT | 170 mi | 78,903 | $473,100 | 96.4 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Spokane with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Spokane a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show no state income tax on wages, short commutes; the trade-offs are heavy snow. Compare Spokane side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Spokane?
The Census Bureau estimates Spokane had 230,783 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 228,965 in April 2020 (+0.8%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Spokane?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $75,300 in the Spokane area. The median household here earns $70,064.
When is the best time to visit Spokane?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to September are the most comfortable months. July averages 84°F and January 34°F for daytime highs.
What county is Spokane in?
Spokane is in Spokane County, Washington. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Spokane in?
Spokane is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Spokane?
About 1,873 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Washington have a state income tax?
No. Washington does not tax wage income.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Spokane. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Spokane Intl. Airport, WA station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.