Is Spokane a good place to live? An honest answer from someone who does

What people tell me they love

• The outdoors is close. You can be on a lake, a trail or a ski hill in well under an hour.
• Short drives. Most cross-town trips take 15 to 25 minutes.
• Four real seasons. Hot, dry summers; a long golden fall; snow in winter; lilacs in spring.
• A city that still feels reachable. A walkable downtown, universities, major hospitals and an airport, without big-city scale.
• More home for the money than Seattle and much of the West Coast.

What takes adjusting

• Winter. It snows, and it stays cold. Good tires and a little patience go a long way.
• Wildfire season. Some summers bring smoke, and fire is a real consideration when you choose where to buy and how to insure it. The area has been through serious fires in 2023 and 2026.
• Jobs. Healthcare, education, defense and distribution are strong. Some specialized careers have fewer openings than a larger metro.
• You will drive. Transit exists, but most households rely on a car.

Who it tends to suit

People who want outdoor time to be easy, who are fine with real winter, and who would trade some big-city options for space and a shorter commute. Remote workers and military families often fit that description, and so do people moving home to be near family.

How to find out for yourself

• Visit in January as well as July.
• Drive your likely commute at the hour you would actually drive it.
• Spend a Saturday in two or three different areas. The South Hill, Liberty Lake and Cheney feel like three different towns.

If you tell me what your days look like, I will tell you honestly which parts of the area fit and which do not.