1st Advantage MortgageThe median Spokane County household earns $78,582, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Washington before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Spokane County
- Income in Spokane County compared with Washington
- Work, industries and travel time in Spokane County
- Housing costs in Spokane County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Spokane County
- Spokane County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Spokane County
- Room for a loan payment in Spokane County
- A Spokane County borrower's checklist
- Washington rules that apply in Spokane County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Spokane County
Roughly 549,056 residents live in Spokane County, Washington, 4th by population among the state's 39 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 1,764 square miles, that is close to 311 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 21 places in the county (13 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Spokane, with about 230,293 residents, or 42% of the county.
Income in Spokane County compared with Washington
Half of Spokane County households take in less than $78,582 a year and half take in more, 20% below the Washington median of $98,141. In the state ranking that is 17th of 39.
| Household income | Spokane County | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.7% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.3% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | -8.4 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. 11.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). None of these numbers decides a Spokane County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Spokane County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Spokane County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 26% locally and 22% for Washington. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Spokane County. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home.
| Sector | Spokane County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.4% | -4.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.6% | -1.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.4% | +2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Spokane County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,283 in Spokane County versus $1,760 statewide. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $410,700, about 5.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 64%.
| Measure | Spokane County | Washington | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,283/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $410,700 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.0% | 5.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 7% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Kootenai County is closest, 33 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bonner County, is 60 miles off. Income ranges from $55,406 in Whitman County to $81,861 in Kootenai County; 1 of these neighbors top Spokane County's median. Some neighbors are in Idaho. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Spokane County resident follows Washington rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane County | - | $78,582 | $1,283/mo | 64% |
| Kootenai County, ID | 33 mi | $81,861 | $1,492/mo | 71% |
| Benewah County, ID | 45 mi | $59,794 | $875/mo | 73% |
| Lincoln County, WA | 47 mi | $71,512 | $883/mo | 80% |
| Whitman County, WA | 50 mi | $55,406 | $1,049/mo | 47% |
| Stevens County, WA | 57 mi | $69,327 | $898/mo | 80% |
| Bonner County, ID | 60 mi | $66,979 | $1,122/mo | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Spokane County
The table lists the 14 largest of 21 Census places in Spokane County, by population. Together all 21 hold about 424,597 people, so roughly 23% of residents live outside any named place. Liberty Lake has the highest median household income on the list ($118,723) and Deer Park the lowest ($54,391), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Medical Lake ($785) and steepest in Liberty Lake ($1,895). City guides exist for the linked Spokane County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane | city | 230,293 | $70,064 | $1,215 | 4 mi |
| Spokane Valley | city | 106,365 | $74,042 | $1,353 | 8 mi |
| Cheney | city | 12,804 | $54,503 | $1,156 | 12 mi |
| Liberty Lake | city | 12,737 | $118,723 | $1,895 | 14 mi |
| Airway Heights | city | 11,245 | $62,874 | $1,389 | 8 mi |
| Fairwood | CDP | 10,674 | $91,988 | $1,208 | 10 mi |
| Mead | CDP | 6,893 | $77,045 | $1,445 | 11 mi |
| Country Homes | CDP | 6,198 | $84,653 | $1,286 | 9 mi |
| Otis Orchards-East Farms | CDP | 5,454 | $97,500 | $1,189 | 16 mi |
| Medical Lake | city | 4,950 | $79,989 | $785 | 14 mi |
| Town and Country | CDP | 4,890 | $92,652 | $1,600 | 7 mi |
| Deer Park | city | 4,791 | $54,391 | $1,006 | 24 mi |
| Fairchild AFB | CDP | 2,931 | $69,917 | $1,808 | 11 mi |
| Millwood | city | 1,890 | $83,068 | $1,134 | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Spokane County residents: age, schooling, coverage
33% of Spokane County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.1%, against 6.3% for Washington.
| Measure | Spokane County | Washington statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.1% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Spokane County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Borrowing situations common in Spokane County
What the Spokane County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Spokane County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Spokane County borrower sees (free reports).
Room for a loan payment in Spokane County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Spokane County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,548 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,283, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,009 left for all other debt payments
- $1,664: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Spokane County's.
A Spokane County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Spokane County:
- Price the Spokane County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Washington license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Washington rules that apply in Spokane County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Spokane County, check the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Spokane County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Spokane County household make?
About $78,582 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Washington median.
What do renters pay in Spokane County?
$1,283 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Does this page cover Spokane?
Yes, along with the other 20 Census places in Spokane County, such as Spokane Valley, Cheney, Liberty Lake.
Does living in Spokane County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Spokane County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Spokane County?
Start with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.