Richmond receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Spokane-Spokane Valley
Richmond
Opportunity
64 · Top 33%
vs59 · Top 43%
Growth
50 · Bottom 48%
vs55 · Top 42%
Climate
60 · Bottom 25%
vs75 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 11%
vs75 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 20%
vs83 · Bottom 32%
Access
80 · Bottom 44%
vs95 · Top 27%
Economic stability
69 · Top 36%
vs87 · Top 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Spokane-Spokane Valley | Richmond | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 597,123 | 1,341,248 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,488 | $86,679 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,549 | $47,682 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 141/sq mi | 307/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $405,300 | $353,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,264 | $1,447 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.7% | 67.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 41.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,184 | 8,722 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.3 | 6.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -20.4% | -10.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 22.5" | 45.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 27.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.1 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Spokane-Spokane Valley
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Richmond
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, drought.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Spokane-Spokane Valley
68
Your Score
68
Area Score
Richmond
76
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metro Area · Richmond, VA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology