Is Spokane a Good Place to Live? 11 Pros and Cons

Spokane is a metropolis positioned in japanese Washington that’s recognized for its lovely pure panorama, thriving neighborhood, and numerous cultural sights. With a rising economic system, 4 distinct seasons, and proximity to different main cities and vacationer locations, residing in Spokane provides residents a novel high quality of life that’s tough to seek out in different city facilities. 

Nevertheless, like every metropolis, Spokane has its share of professionals and cons that will affect an individual’s determination to name it house. Whether or not you’re contemplating renting an condominium or home in Spokane or buying a house within the space, we are going to discover 11 professionals and cons of residing in Spokane that will help you resolve whether or not it’s the proper place for you. From outside actions and cultural sights to site visitors and public transportation, we are going to check out what life is like in Spokane so as to show you how to make an knowledgeable determination about whether or not it’s a good place so that you can name your subsequent house.

Professionals of residing in Spokane

1. Entry to outside alternatives

Spokane is an outside paradise, providing a variety of actions which might be certain to fulfill any outside fanatic. Whether or not you need to hike, bike, ski, fish, climb, or just get pleasure from nature, Spokane has all of it. The town is surrounded by lovely lakes, rivers, and mountains, offering limitless alternatives for outside recreation. Through the summer season months, residents can make the most of the various mountaineering trails within the space, together with Iller Creek Conservation Space, Micah Peak Conservation Space, and Beehive Lakes. The town can be house to a number of nice parks, together with Riverfront Park, which provides a carousel, skate ribbon, playgrounds, river views, live shows at its pavilion, and Riverside State Park, which provides views of the Spokane River. For water lovers, Spokane is an ideal vacation spot, with close by lakes reminiscent of Lake Coeur d’Alene and Lake Pend Oreille providing a spread of actions reminiscent of boating, fishing, and swimming. Through the winter months, residents can hit the slopes at close by ski resorts reminiscent of Mt. Spokane, 49 Levels North, or Schweitzer Mountain, which supply a spread of snowboarding and snowboarding choices. 

2. Central location

Spokane’s central location is one in all its best belongings. The town is located within the japanese a part of Washington state, which makes it a handy base for exploring the Pacific Northwest. Residents can attain a number of main cities reminiscent of Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, in addition to in style nationwide parks like Yellowstone Nationwide Park and Glacier Nationwide Park

3. 4 distinct seasons

Spokane’s 4 distinct seasons are one of many many the explanation why persons are drawn to town. Every season provides distinctive climate patterns and actions, offering residents with a various vary of out of doors experiences all year long. The nice and cozy summers are good for mountaineering, biking, and exploring the native lakes and rivers. The autumn season brings cooler climate and gorgeous foliage shows, making it a good time for outside festivals and occasions. Winters in Spokane are chilly and snowy, offering ample alternatives for snowboarding, snowboarding, and different winter sports activities. The spring season is understood for its delicate climate and delightful blooms, with many parks and gardens coming alive with colourful blooms. Total, Spokane’s 4 seasons provide a wide range of actions, occasions, and surroundings to maintain residents engaged all year long. 

Manito Park

4. Much less site visitors

Whereas Spokane is a rising metropolis, it has managed to keep up comparatively gentle site visitors in comparison with different city facilities. The town’s format is designed to cut back congestion and enhance circulation, making commuting to work or working errands a lot simpler and fewer demanding. A number of main roads go by way of or close to Spokane, together with I-90, US 2, and US 395, a few of which offer a direct path to Seattle and even all the best way to Chicago

5. Cultural sights

Spokane is wealthy in cultural sights, making it a great place for individuals who respect artwork, historical past, and music. The town is house to a wide range of museums and galleries, such because the Northwest Museum of Arts and Tradition, which showcases the area’s historical past and artwork, and the Spokane Artwork College, which provides courses and exhibitions for native artists. The Bing Crosby Theater, which has been a fixture within the metropolis for the reason that Nineteen Twenties, hosts a wide range of music, theater, and movie occasions all year long. Along with these cultural sights, Spokane is understood for its vibrant festivals and occasions. The Lilac Competition, which takes place each Might, is a celebration of town’s historical past and tradition, whereas Hoopfest, the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball event, attracts 1000’s of holiday makers to town every year. 

6. Rising economic system

Spokane’s rising economic system is among the many the explanation why it’s a excellent place to stay and work. The town has skilled vital progress in recent times, with alternatives in healthcare, schooling, know-how, and different sectors. Moreover, town has a robust entrepreneurial spirit, with many startups and small companies discovering success in Spokane. This has led to a thriving enterprise neighborhood, with sources such because the Spokane Small Enterprise Growth Heart and StartUp Spokane offering help and sources to entrepreneurs and small enterprise house owners. Along with these developments, Spokane is house to a number of main universities and medical facilities like Gonzaga College, Whitworth College, Sacred Coronary heart Kids’s Hospital, and MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, which contribute to town’s rising economic system and provide quite a few employment alternatives. 

Gonzaga University

Cons of residing in Spokane

7. Harsh winters

Whereas Spokane’s winters may be lovely, they can be harsh and difficult for some residents. The town experiences chilly temperatures, snow, and ice, with an common snowfall of round 7 inches and an common low of about 28℉ through the winter months. The snowy panorama also can make it difficult to get round, significantly for individuals who wouldn’t have expertise driving in winter circumstances.

8. Hearth season

Spokane’s fireplace season is a possible draw back for residents, because the area is vulnerable to wildfires through the summer season months. These fires may be harmful. Nevertheless, town has taken steps to arrange for and stop wildfires. The Spokane Hearth Division has a complete wildfire prevention plan in place, which incorporates schooling, planning, and response measures.

Moreover, town and county have carried out fireplace restrictions through the summer season months to cut back the chance of wildfires, together with bans on campfires and outside burning.

9. Restricted public transportation

Spokane’s public transportation system is restricted in comparison with different main cities, which is usually a problem for residents who depend on it to get round. The bus system does cowl a lot of the realm, however the routes may be rare and will not run late into the night time. Moreover, there isn’t a gentle rail or subway system, which may make it difficult to journey throughout town effectively. Whereas there are some bike lanes and trails within the metropolis, the hilly terrain in areas like South Hill could make biking tough for some residents.

Spokane Waterfalls

10. Lack of walkability

With a walkscore of 49, Spokane’s lack of walkability is usually a problem for residents preferring to get round on foot. The town is sprawling and hilly in some components, with huge roads and restricted sidewalks. Whereas Spokane is probably not essentially the most walkable metropolis, there are nonetheless alternatives for residents to discover town on foot. The town has a number of walkable neighborhoods, such because the downtown space, South Perry, and Kendall Yards which supply a spread of retailers, eating places, and leisure choices. Moreover, town has invested in creating extra walkable areas, such because the revitalization of Riverfront Park, which can be related to the Centennial Path. 

11. No sports activities groups

Whereas Spokane could not have any main skilled sports activities groups, it nonetheless provides a spread of alternatives for sports activities followers to get pleasure from their favourite actions. The town has a number of minor league sports activities groups, together with the Spokane Chiefs hockey crew and the Spokane Indians baseball crew. As well as, Spokane is house to the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Identified for his or her sturdy basketball program, the Bulldogs have constantly been one of many high groups within the nation in recent times, repeatedly making deep runs within the NCAA event. Gonzaga’s basketball success has helped to place Spokane on the map as a basketball city.