Spokane, WA
Census place 5367000 · pop 230,293
Host of Expo '74, the first world's fair with an environmental theme, which gave the city its Riverfront Park.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).
The breakdown — worst first
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.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
58.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$363,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
13.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$70,064 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
35.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
91.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
33.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
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.
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.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.81% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
8.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+6.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,498/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
20.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
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.
Not measured for Spokane: 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 Spokane, WA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Spokane scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is unemployment rate. 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 Spokane, WA expensive to live in?
- Spokane has a median home value of $363,500 and typical rent around $1,498/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Spokane, WA?
- Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (4.6%) — 18/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
- What is Spokane, WA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (38 AQI) — 77/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Host of Expo '74, the first world's fair with an environmental theme, which gave the city its Riverfront Park.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.