The Town FilesSpokane, Washington
City in Spokane County · population 228,989 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $363,500
- Household income
- $70,064
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 37.2
Spokane is a city of 228,989 people in Spokane County, Washington. The median home is worth $363,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Washington towns, hipper than 95% of Washington towns, more vibrant than 91% of Washington towns.
How Spokane 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 Spokane is worth $363,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $70,064, which is more affordable than 55% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,215 a month. 58.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spokane | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $363,500 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,215 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $70,064 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 58.8% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Spokane
| People | Spokane | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.9% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Spokane
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 25.8°F. About 17.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.4 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spokane since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on April 18, 2024 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 31, 1997.
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 Spokane itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Spokane
99 public schools with 40,911 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mead Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,805 | 20.3 |
| Ferris High School | 9-12 | 1,674 | 18.8 |
| Lewis & Clark High School | 9-12 | 1,672 | 19.0 |
| North Central High School | 6-12 | 1,624 | 18.7 |
| Rogers High School | 9-12 | 1,511 | 16.1 |
| Shadle Park High School | 9-12 | 1,423 | 18.2 |
| Sacajawea Middle School | 6-8 | 985 | 19.3 |
| West Valley High School | 9-12 | 821 | 20.5 |
| Chase Middle School | 6-8 | 810 | 16.2 |
| Northwood Middle School | 6-8 | 767 | 17.4 |
| Spokane International Academy (charter) | K-10 | 754 | 14.2 |
| Highland Middle School | 6-8 | 693 | 17.8 |
Towns near Spokane
- Town and Country, WA4.2 mi · 5,068 people · home $356,800
- Country Homes, WA5.6 mi · 6,251 people · home $429,400
- Airway Heights, WA6.9 mi · 10,757 people · home $348,500
- Fairwood, WA6.9 mi · 10,541 people · home $469,100
- Mead, WA8.7 mi · 7,576 people · home $408,200
- Spokane Valley, WA9.3 mi · 102,976 people · home $382,300
- Fairchild AFB, WA10.6 mi · 2,695 people · home —
- Medical Lake, WA13.6 mi · 4,874 people · home $368,700
Spokane questions
Is Spokane, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spokane scores better for retirees than 18% of Washington towns and quieter than 13%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Spokane?
The median owner-occupied home in Spokane is valued at $363,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,064, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,215 a month.
What is the weather like in Spokane?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 25.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.4 inches of precipitation a year and 45.4 inches of snow.
Does Spokane get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spokane since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on April 18, 2024. 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)