The Town FilesCheney, Washington
City in Spokane County · population 13,255 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $395,900
- Household income
- $54,503
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 24.4
Cheney is a city of 13,255 people in Spokane County, Washington. The median home is worth $395,900, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Washington towns, hipper than 99% of Washington towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Washington towns.
How Cheney ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cheney is worth $395,900, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 7.3 times the median household income of $54,503, which is more affordable than 8% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,156 a month. 34.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cheney | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $395,900 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,156 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $54,503 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.3× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 34.7% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Cheney
| People | Cheney | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Cheney
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 18.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.9 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheney since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 17, 1983 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 17, 1983.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 17, 2005.
Severe weather in Spokane County since 1996
Spokane County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Fire | EM-3650: Wildfires |
| August 2, 2026 | Fire | FM-5658: Fairview Fire |
| August 2, 2026 | Fire | FM-5659: Autumn Lane Fire |
| August 1, 2026 | Fire | FM-5656: Old Trails Fire |
| June 16, 2026 | Fire | FM-5638: Upriver Fire |
Jobs and pay in Spokane County
Spokane County had 243,161 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,488 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Cheney itself the ACS puts it at 13.1%.
Public schools in Cheney
10 public schools with 3,800 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheney High School | 9-12 | 1,488 | 19.6 |
| Cheney Middle School | 6-8 | 606 | 16.8 |
| Phil Snowdon Elementary | PK-5 | 545 | 16.5 |
| Betz Elementary | PK-5 | 531 | 15.6 |
| Salnave Elementary | PK-5 | 350 | 17.5 |
| HomeWorks | K-12 | 133 | 66.5 |
| Three Springs High School | 9-12 | 91 | 15.2 |
| WIN Academy | 6-12 | 49 | 24.5 |
| Cheney Open Doors | 7-12 | 7 | — |
| Birth To Three | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Cheney
- Medical Lake, WA7.5 mi · 4,874 people · home $368,700
- Fairchild AFB, WA9.3 mi · 2,695 people · home —
- Airway Heights, WA10.7 mi · 10,757 people · home $348,500
- Spokane, WA14.0 mi · 228,989 people · home $363,500
- Town and Country, WA18.0 mi · 5,068 people · home $356,800
- Country Homes, WA19.3 mi · 6,251 people · home $429,400
- Spokane Valley, WA20.1 mi · 102,976 people · home $382,300
- Fairwood, WA20.5 mi · 10,541 people · home $469,100
Cheney questions
Is Cheney, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cheney scores better for retirees than 23% of Washington towns and quieter than 11%. 11.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.4).
How much does a house cost in Cheney?
The median owner-occupied home in Cheney is valued at $395,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,503, so homes cost about 7.3 times income. Median rent is $1,156 a month.
What is the weather like in Cheney?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43.9 inches of snow.
Does Cheney get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 17, 1983. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)