The Spokane metro is home to 591,793 people (up 6.6% over five years), with a median household income of $72,836. Typical rent of $1,512/month works out to 24.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Spokane's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 25.9% |
| Retail trade | 12.0% |
| Professional & management | 10.3% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.7% |
| Manufacturing | 7.6% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Spokane market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,512/month suggests a household income around $60,000/year. The metro's median household income is $72,836.
By workforce share: Education & health care (25.9%), Retail trade (12.0%), Professional & management (10.3%) (Census ACS 5-year).