Are you considering moving your family to Spokane for better quality of life but wondering if you’ll really like living here?
In this blog post I’m going to share with you the top 5 reasons why I love living in Spokane and think you will, too!
If we haven’t met before, I’m Emily Silcock and I’m a Realtor that specializes in helping families relocate to Spokane.
For context, we moved to Spokane from Seattle, so this is my perspective having come from somewhere else. I was definitely skeptical at first about making the move to Spokane but now I’m a huge fan!
Reason #1: Slower Pace of Life
Spokane definitely has a slower pace of life than other larger cities, which means a less stressful lifestyle. This was actually one of the biggest reasons why we decided to move to Spokane once we were expecting our first kid.
Traffic is minimal, most of your driving is on surface streets, you can usually park right outside of where you’re trying to go, and businesses aren’t super busy.
You can also find neighborhoods that allow you to be pretty self-contained, so it’s easy to run a number of errands quickly.
Spokane is just a less hectic place to live and the time you save commuting and figuring out logistics can be spent doing things you enjoy with your family.
Reason #2: Family-Friendly
Speaking of family, Spokane is Family-friendly. There are many walkable neighborhoods with sidewalks and plenty of activities to do with your kids, including low-cost and free options.
There are a ton of parks that are spacious and not overcrowded, there’s a great kid’s museum downtown, and you can do fun things like go apple picking or visit a pumpkin patch just 30 minutes outside of downtown in an area called Green Bluff.
There are breweries with kid-friendly outdoor spaces and Spokane is actually in the process of upgrading its libraries to include a large indoor play area for kids, which is a great option when you need to get the wiggles out in the winter!
Reason #3: Outdoor Activities
I already touched on the parks and Green Bluff, but in Spokane, you’re within 45 mins to an hour away or less from skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, and beautiful lakes for recreation.
Additionally, even just within Spokane, you have quick access to a number of walking trails and low-key hikes with nice views. It’s just easier to get outside and do fun things here!
Reason #4: “Affordable” Housing
In Spokane you will likely find yourself getting more home for your money and in a better neighborhood than where you’re moving from, but just don’t expect it to be a steal. Spokane’s housing market has heated up considerably over the past few years and Spokane is currently dealing with a lack of affordable housing.
The median home price in Spokane in January 2022 was $380,000. The housing market can be a competitive place as a buyer, but the perk of that as a Spokane homeowner is that the market appreciated almost 21% in the last year!
Reason #5: Food & Drink Options
This one was the most surprising to me when we moved here. I was worried about not finding restaurants, coffee shops and craft breweries that we liked, but that honestly hasn’t been the case.
New places are popping up all the time and our favorites here always have new, interesting things on the menu and many are accommodating to dietary restrictions, which I appreciate.
I will say that there are likely fewer options than what you’re used to in bigger cities and Spokane is still lacking in ethnic food options, but that’s something that will hopefully improve over time.
Alright, those are my top 5 reasons why I think you’ll love living in Spokane. I will say that while I really enjoy living here, Spokane does have its flaws like any other city.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my post on the 5 worst things about living in Spokane, so you can decide if Spokane really could be a place you’d want to call home.
Please leave a comment if you have any questions about relocating to Spokane or anything else. I’d love to be a resource as you plan your move here!
