CityFunIndex
63 / 100

The Fun Score™

Spokane, WA

Fun

T#50 of 134 in the US tied with 1 other city

#2 of 2 in Washington

A solid spread of things to see, eat and do.

Strongest on Sports (86), Coffee (81) and City Vibe (74).

Watch for elevated Crime (83) and Going-Out Costs (82).

Beats #1 Despite ranking T#50 nationally, Spokane beats Portland, ME on City Vibe (74 vs 42) — and is calmer on Air Quality (78 vs 75).

Spokane scores 63 out of 100 — one number built from 16 things that make a city fun and 7 that wear it down. How is this calculated?

Where Spokane lands on the scale

Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Spokane sits.

How the Fun Score adds up

The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Spokane fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.

Fun factors –

16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100

Drawbacks –

7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100

Fun factors lift it
–
Drawbacks pull it down
–
Raw composite
–
Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
–

Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).

The Fun breakdown

Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.

Spokane's strongest factors are Sports, Coffee and City Vibe. Its heaviest drawbacks are Crime, Going-Out Cost and Economic Strain.

On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.

What lifts the score

  • Eats –

    Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Drinks –

    Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Coffee –

    Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Live Music –

    Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.

    Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.

  • Star Power –

    Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.

    Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).

  • Outdoors –

    Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.

  • Culture –

    Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Events –

    Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.

    Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.

  • Sports –

    Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.

    Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.

  • Unique Hangouts –

    Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • City Vibe –

    How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.

    Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).

  • Climate –

    How often the weather is good enough to get outside.

    Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.

  • Transit Quality –

    How well a person without a car can move around the city.

    Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.

  • Walkability –

    Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.

    Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).

  • Higher Education –

    Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.

    Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.

  • Bike & Micromobility –

    Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.

What weighs it down

  • Crime –

    Reported violent and property crime rates.

    Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.

  • Traffic –

    Congestion and the time lost to commuting.

    Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).

  • Air Quality –

    Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.

    Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).

  • Disaster Risk –

    Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.

    Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.

  • Weather Extremes –

    Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.

    Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.

  • Economic Strain –

    Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.

    Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.

  • Going-Out Cost –

    What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.

    Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.

Cities like Spokane

The Spokane read Free

A written read on Spokane, grounded in the data

A plain-English analysis of why Spokane scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.

Spokane, WA: A Fun City with a Strong Sports Scene

Spokane, WA earns a Fun Score of 63, placing it as a Fun city, tied for #49 out of 134 cities nationally, and stands out for its robust sports culture.

Why it scores high

Spokane shines brightest in its vibrant Sports scene, scoring an impressive 84 out of 100. This places it tied for #21 nationally among 134 cities, indicating a strong presence of professional and collegiate games, as well as numerous stadiums, sports centers, and fitness facilities (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres). For residents and visitors, this means ample opportunities to engage with or attend sporting events, contributing significantly to the city's dynamic atmosphere.

The city also boasts an excellent Coffee culture, with a score of 81. This ranks it #26 nationally, suggesting a thriving landscape of cafes and coffee shops, with high-quality venues (OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This high score indicates that finding a great cup of coffee or a cozy spot to work or socialize is a common and enjoyable experience in Spokane.

Adding to its appeal, Spokane benefits from a positive City Vibe, scoring 74 and tying for #35 nationally (GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)). This suggests a generally positive sentiment and interest surrounding the city, contributing to an overall pleasant and engaging environment for those who live there or are considering a visit.

Where it falls short

While Spokane offers many strengths, it faces challenges in a few key areas. The city's Events scene scores a low 11, ranking it tied for #119 out of 134 cities nationally (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events). This indicates that large-scale festivals, fairs, and ticketed events may be less frequent or diverse compared to other cities, potentially limiting options for those seeking major cultural or entertainment spectacles.

Another area of concern is Crime, where Spokane scores 17, placing it tied for #111 nationally (FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals). A low score in this category means the city experiences a higher rate of crime, which can impact residents' sense of safety and overall quality of life. Additionally, the Going-Out Cost is a significant drawback, with a score of 18, tied for #87 nationally (Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services). This suggests that expenses for dining out, entertainment, and transportation are relatively high, potentially making leisure activities less accessible or affordable for some.

Who it's for

Spokane is an ideal city for sports enthusiasts and coffee lovers who appreciate a generally positive urban atmosphere. It caters to individuals who prioritize local sports events and a strong cafe culture over a bustling calendar of large-scale events or a highly affordable nightlife.

Cities like it

Sources

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
  • EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
  • EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
  • FEMA National Risk Index
  • GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
  • GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
  • NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
  • NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
  • NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
  • OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
  • OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
  • OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
  • Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
  • Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
  • Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
  • US Census commute-time data (ACS)

This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.

Written by CityFunIndex from the measured Fun Score data — the figures match this page, refreshed with every recompute.

Go deeper

Score it your way → Slide the 23 factors to match what you call fun, and re-rank every city against your own taste. Compare cities → Put Spokane head-to-head with another city, factor by factor. More fun in Washington → See every Washington city in the index, ranked by Fun Score.

Use the data

Spokane’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.

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Citation

CityFunIndex Fun Score for Spokane, WA: 63/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/spokane-wa

Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.

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