Kennewick vs Spokane
Compare Kennewick, WA and Spokane, WA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,157/mo in Kennewick and $1,112/mo in Spokane, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,485/mo and $1,304/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (243 vs 249 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 88°F and 84°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Spokane; if walkable daily life matters more, Spokane screens stronger on the walkability proxy (12 vs 4). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Spokane leads 78 to 73 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Spokane leads 56 to 39 on the daily life screen.
Kennewick leads 56 to 40 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Kennewick is roughly $97,143 in Spokane using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Kennewick | Spokane | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,157/mo | $1,112/mo | Spokane |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,485/mo | $1,304/mo | Spokane |
| Median home value | $330,000 | $327,000 | Spokane |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 24.3 min | Kennewick |
| Safety score | 40/100 | 36/100 | Kennewick |
| School score | 5/10 | 6/10 | Spokane |
| Walkability estimate | 4/100 | 12/100 | Spokane |
| Outdoor score | 8/10 | 9/10 | Spokane |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.6 | 180.5 | Spokane |
| Mountain distance | 90 mi | 14 mi | Spokane |
| Coast distance | 173 mi | 222 mi | Kennewick |
What stands out
Kennewick stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Strong outdoor access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 61 miles
Kennewick tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Spokane stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 30 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Spokane tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Kennewick cheaper than Spokane?
On public benchmarks Spokane is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,157/mo in Kennewick vs $1,112/mo in Spokane; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,485/mo vs $1,304/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Kennewick or Spokane safer?
Kennewick screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 40/100 for Kennewick and 36/100 for Spokane (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Kennewick or Spokane?
School screens show 5/10 for Kennewick vs 6/10 for Spokane, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Kennewick and Spokane?
Kennewick: summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 23°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Spokane: 84°F / 25°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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