Cheney, WA

Census place 5311825 · pop 12,804

D−44/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in WA
📍 Washington ranks #24 of 50 states →
🏆 Inactive19.5% · top 20%
🚽 Mental23.6% · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.82% property · US 0.99%9.51% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).

The breakdown — worst first

Poor mental health23.6%1

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

23.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Homeownership34.7%2

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

34.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate31.3%3

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

31.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Income inequality0.5012

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.50 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.6%18

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Median household income$54,50319

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$54,503 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Housing cost$395,90030

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$395,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Broadband access91.2%46

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Uninsured adults9.5%50

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Property-tax burden0.82%61

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.82% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level81/10062

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

81/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity32.8%62

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

32.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Population growth (5yr)+5.3%65

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+5.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Bachelor's degree or higher38.0%66

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

38.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Commute time21 min67

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$1,467/mo71

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,467/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Adult smoking10.9%73

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

10.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Air quality (AQI)County-level38 AQI77

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

38 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Physical inactivity19.5%80

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

19.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Not measured for Cheney: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Cheney, WA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Cheney scores 44/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is physical inactivity and its weakest is poor mental health. Washington overall ranks #24 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Cheney, WA expensive to live in?
Cheney has a median home value of $395,900 and typical rent around $1,467/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Cheney, WA?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (23.6%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Cheney, WA best at?
Its strongest measured area is physical inactivity (19.5%) — 80/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.