Population 549,056 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Spokane County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Spokane County
Household size in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Spokane County run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.46, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.6 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.2 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Spokane County are younger than 39.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 37.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Spokane County (10.5%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Washington.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Spokane County
Renters in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.6% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.5% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Spokane County is about as common as it is nationally: 35.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among owners, 36.4% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Spokane County than nationally: 6.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Spokane County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Washington counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Spokane County was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Washington overall, where the median home dates to 1984. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $808 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $893 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,035 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,446 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$638 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Spokane County costs $1,446 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $638 a month since 2006–10, up 79%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Spokane County
Bachelor's degrees in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.3% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.0% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Spokane County (33.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Washington as a whole (38.8%). The share with a degree has risen 4.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.8% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.7% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Spokane County: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points, as it has nationally. Spokane County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Washington counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Spokane County
| Period | Spokane County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.4%, unemployment in Spokane County is the same as the national rate. Unemployment has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Spokane County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane County | 2.52 | 39.8 | 10.5% | 35.5% | 6.7% | 1978 | $1,446 | 33.0% | 94.7% | 5.4% |
| Kootenai County | 2.61 | 42.0 | 9.5% | 28.7% | 9.8% | 1994 | $1,591 | 29.9% | 94.8% | 3.1% |
| Benewah County | 2.56 | 45.5 | 9.6% | 26.8% | 14.0% | 1978 | $858 | 22.0% | 86.4% | 3.0% |
| Lincoln County | 2.41 | 45.9 | 8.6% | 19.6% | 15.7% | 1966 | $889 | 24.0% | 92.2% | 7.5% |
| Shoshone County | 2.38 | 44.8 | 8.8% | 26.0% | 17.2% | 1961 | $862 | 12.7% | 89.1% | 5.9% |
| Sanders County | 2.42 | 55.5 | 4.9% | 18.7% | 19.5% | 1990 | $883 | 21.8% | 91.9% | 5.5% |
| Grant County | 2.85 | 35.2 | 15.8% | 33.7% | 10.1% | 1986 | $1,156 | 19.0% | 81.7% | 6.2% |
| Mineral County | 2.30 | 50.8 | 8.8% | 18.9% | 15.6% | 1985 | $814 | 25.8% | 92.6% | 3.2% |
| Douglas County | 2.76 | 39.5 | 14.3% | 30.7% | 10.6% | 1986 | $1,489 | 21.7% | 82.4% | 3.7% |
| Chelan County | 2.61 | 41.4 | 9.6% | 35.4% | 14.2% | 1981 | $1,300 | 30.8% | 86.3% | 3.9% |
| Lake County | 2.59 | 44.4 | 8.8% | 25.0% | 18.7% | 1985 | $994 | 31.0% | 92.8% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Ocean County, NJ · Adams County, CO · York County, PA · Williamson County, TX · Washoe County, NV · Washington County, OR · Volusia County, FL · Virginia Beach City, VA · Union County, NJ · Tulare County, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Spokane County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.