Moving to Spokane, WA

Thinking about moving to Spokane?

You’ll be in good company. Between 2010 and 2016, more than 7,057 people have moved to Spokane, an increase of 3.4%. New residents are attracted to Spokane’s affordable housing, scenic views, breweries, and wineries.

Living

Spokane is home to 215,973 Spokanites. With an area of 59.2 square miles, Spokane has a population density of 3,648 persons per square mile, which makes it less dense than many other cities of comparable size.

The Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area boasts a population of 556,634 people, of which Spokane proper’s population makes up 39%.

Housing

One of Spokane’s greatest strengths is its relatively affordable housing market. The median home value in Spokane is $175,100, -13% below the US median value, according to Zillow. The median price per square foot in Spokane is $143. Over the past 5 years, home values in Spokane have increased by 6%.

Renters in Spokane will also have an easy time finding affordable housing. The median rent in Spokane is $1,117 per month, which is 22% lower than the US median. Over the past year, rental rates in Spokane have increased by 5.9%.

Economy

Spokane’s economy has been a bit sluggish over the past few years. The Spokane metro area’s GDP grew by 13% between 2011 and 2016, from $21.2 billion in 2011 to $23.9 billion in 2016, a total increase of $2.7 billion. The metro area has a per capita GDP of $43,075. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Spokane is $49,042, 17% lower than the national median. Spokane’s unemployment rate is 5.1%.

Weather

The average annual temperature in Spokane is 48.05 degrees. The average annual low temperature is 38.5 degrees, while the average annual high is 57.6 degrees. Spokane’s hottest month is July, during which the average high temperature is 83 degrees, while the coldest month is December, when the average low drops down to 22 degrees.

Spokane sees an average rainfall of 16.52 inches per year. November is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 2.28 inches, while August is the dryest month, with an average rainfall of 0.59 inches.

Crime

Spokane has an annual violent crime rate of 5.92 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national median of 3.8 in 1,000. Its property crime rate is 76.19 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, which is higher than the national average of 26.

Traffic & Transportation

Traffic is not as big of a problem in Spokane as it is in many other US cities. According to a survey conducted by INRIX, the average commuter in Spokane spends 12.9 hours in traffic each year, with about 5% of their time commuting in a traffic jam, a lower portion than average among US cities.

Walk Score gives Spokane a walk score of 48.

Cost of Living

Spokane is a relatively affordable place to live with a low cost of living. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis‘s Regional Price Parity survey, which takes into account cost of living metrics including the price of goods and services and housing, Spokane has a regional price parity of 104.2, -4.8% below the average for US metro areas.

Demographics

The median age in Spokane is 35.8 years. 49.6% of the population in the Spokane metro area is male, while 50.4% is female. 5.5% of the metro population is foreign-born.

In terms of racial demographics, Spokane is 80.9% Non-Hispanic White, 6.7% Hispanic, 1.5% Black, and 2.9% Asian.

93.7% of those over the age of 25 in Spokane have a high school diploma, a higher rate than nationally. 30.2% of those over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, which is lower than the national rate. 12.2% of residents have an advanced or professional degree.

In the 2016 presidential election, 48% of Spokane voters voted for the Republican nominee, while 40% voted for the Democratic nominee.