Skip to content

Spokane County

WA · Pop. 544,323 · Mixed County

22/100Homestead Score

Spokane County sits in Washington across 1,764 square miles, home to 544,323 people at 308.6 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on wheat, hay, canola. The median home price is $371,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.86%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 159-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.5°F and average winter lows of 25.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 17.8 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Multicare Deaconess Hospital is 2.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.86%
Growing Season: 159 days
Broadband: 97.7%
Density: 308.6/sq mi

Pros

  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.86% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 97.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Multicare Deaconess Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 2.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on wheat, hay, canola means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A 159-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • Annual rainfall of just 17.8 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
  • A median home price of $371,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.

At a glance

Spokane County, WA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
22/100
Median home price
$371k
Property tax
0.86%
Growing season
159 days (zone 6b)
Annual rainfall
17.8"
Broadband
97.7%
Nearest hospital
Multicare Deaconess Hospital, 2.4 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.86%
Median Household Income$73,513
Poverty Rate12.2%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$371K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6b
Growing Season159 days
Annual Rainfall17.8 inches
Avg Summer High81.5°F
Avg Winter Low25.5°F
Top CropsWheat, Hay, Canola

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought2/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado5/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalMulticare Deaconess Hospital (2.4 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities10

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage97.7%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.3%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Spokane County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Spokane County?
Spokane County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 159-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.5°F, and average winter lows of 25.5°F. The established crops are wheat, hay, canola.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $371,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.86%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 97.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Multicare Deaconess Hospital is 2.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 10 hospitals in the county.

Explore Washington Resources

Partner links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Nearby counties

The closest counties to Spokane County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.