Overview
Spokane County is home to 544,323 residents (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), placing it in the top 4% of U.S. counties by population. The county anchors eastern Washington's economy as the region's largest urban center, with Spokane city serving as the commercial and medical hub for a broad inland territory. Median household income is $73,513 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 75% of counties nationwide. The poverty rate sits at 11.9% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Median age is 38.2 years (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023).
Demographics
The population is 81.6% white, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% Asian, 1.9% Black, and 0.8% Native American (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). At 38.2 years, the median age is younger than about 78% of U.S. counties, reflecting the influence of Gonzaga University, Washington State University Spokane, and other higher education institutions.
Some 32.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 81% of counties nationally. That places Spokane in the top third of Washington state for college attainment.
Education
Spokane County schools enrolled 75,006 students (Education Data Portal, 2021), larger than 95% of U.S. counties by enrollment. The graduation rate of 82.9% (Education Data Portal, 2019) falls modestly below the national average.
Per-pupil spending of $18,722 (Education Data Portal, 2020) is above the national average, ranking in the top 21% nationally. The student-teacher ratio of 16.4:1 (Education Data Portal, 2021) is above 83% of U.S. counties. Spending levels are competitive, but outcomes remain middling.
Economy & Employment
Median household income of $73,513 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) puts Spokane County in the top 25% nationally. Per capita income is $39,879 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 78% of U.S. counties. IRS data shows an average adjusted gross income of $82,163 across 258,290 tax returns (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021), with total AGI reaching $21.2 billion.
The labor force totals 262,302, with 249,013 employed and an unemployment rate of 5.1% (BLS LAUS, Annual 2025). That rate sits higher than about 82% of U.S. counties. Healthcare, education, and retail dominate the employment base, and the county's position as a regional service center creates steady but not spectacular job growth.
Average commute time is 19.4 minutes (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), shorter than 73% of counties. Most workers stay within the metro.
Housing & Cost of Living
Median home value is $370,500 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 91% of U.S. counties. Median gross rent runs $1,200 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 85% of counties nationally. Both figures have climbed sharply from pre-pandemic levels.
HUD Fair Market Rents for 2026 break down as follows (HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026):
- Studio: $1,103
- One-bedroom: $1,193
- Two-bedroom: $1,531
- Three-bedroom: $2,088
- Four-bedroom: $2,506
The county has 228,156 total housing units with 12,277 vacant, producing a vacancy rate of 5.4% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Rent consumes roughly 25% of median monthly household income (derived). The home value-to-income ratio sits at 5.0, a level that strains buyers at median income. Spokane's reputation for relative affordability within the Pacific Northwest is eroding.
Health & Wellness
Spokane County's health profile shows consistent strain. Obesity rates stand at 34.8% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than about 78% of U.S. counties. Diabetes prevalence is 9.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than roughly 84% of counties. High blood pressure affects 28.5% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), below 90% of counties nationally.
Depression prevalence hits 27.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than 81% of U.S. counties. Poor mental health days affect 18.2% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023). Poor physical health days are reported by 12.6% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023).
Annual checkup rates sit at 71.2% (CDC PLACES, 2023), in the bottom 15% nationally. The no-health-insurance rate of 7.4% (CDC PLACES, 2023) is lower than about 91% of counties. Access doesn't appear to be the primary barrier to preventive care.
Climate & Natural Disasters
Fire is the defining hazard here. Of Spokane County's 28 federally declared disasters (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026), 12 involved fire, more than any other type. Floods account for six more. The county's disaster total puts it higher than about 82% of U.S. counties, and nine of those 28 declarations have come since 2018.
The climate is cool and dry by Pacific Northwest standards. Average annual temperature is 49.6°F, with highs averaging 60.5°F and lows at 38.7°F (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025). That's cooler than about 69% of counties nationally. Annual precipitation is 19.5 inches, one of the lower totals in the state. Snowfall averages 24.8 inches per year, which is higher than about 63% of U.S. counties.
That dry, low-humidity profile is part of what makes fire risk persistent. The county has seen fire declarations in 1991, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016 (twice), 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023 (twice), and 2024. Severe storms have triggered four declarations; floods, six. There's also a 1980 volcanic eruption declaration, a legacy of Mount St. Helens.
The recent pace is notable. Eight federal declarations have come since 2020, with the most recent in February 2024. For residents, that's not a historical curiosity. It's an active risk profile, and the dry summers that fuel fire seasons aren't going anywhere.
Financial Profile
Total adjusted gross income across Spokane County reached $21.2 billion from 258,290 tax returns (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Average AGI was $82,163 per return, higher than 85% of U.S. counties.
The county has 64 FDIC-insured bank branches holding $8.9 billion in deposits (FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023). That branch count ranks in the top 7% nationally, reflecting Spokane's role as a regional financial hub.
Social Security beneficiaries total 118,325 (SSA OASDI, 2024), about 21.7% of the population. That share tracks closely with the national average.
Key Comparisons
Spokane County ranks in the top 25% of U.S. counties on household income, but closer to the middle on per-capita measures. The gap reflects inequality within the county: strong earners coexist with an 11.9% poverty rate that sits lower than about 58% of U.S. counties.
Within Washington state, the county ranks around the middle on income (higher than about 56% of U.S. counties) and below the midpoint on home values (lower than about 51% of U.S. counties). Compared to the Seattle metro, Spokane looks affordable. But home values at 5x income are no longer the bargain they once were.
The fire disaster record is the starkest feature of Spokane's risk profile. Twelve fire declarations in a county this size, with nine coming since 2018, signal an escalating pattern that property values and insurance markets haven't yet fully priced in.
Data Sources
- Census ACS 5-Year, 2023: Population, income, housing, demographics, education attainment, commute times, poverty
- BLS LAUS, Annual 2025: Employment and unemployment
- CDC PLACES, 2023: Health outcomes and preventive care
- HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026: Rental cost benchmarks
- FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026: Disaster declarations
- IRS Statistics of Income, 2021: Tax return data and income
- FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023: Bank branches and deposits
- NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025: Temperature and precipitation
- SSA OASDI, 2024: Social Security beneficiaries
- Education Data Portal, 2019/2020/2021: School enrollment, spending, staffing, graduation rates