How Job Growth Is Shaping Housing On Spokane’s West Plains
June 4, 2026
June 4, 2026
If you have been watching the West Plains, you have probably noticed the pace feels different. More jobs tied to the airport, freight, aerospace, and regional commuting are shaping where people want to live, and 99004 sits right in that conversation. If you are buying, selling, or simply trying to make sense of Cheney-area housing, this is where the numbers start to tell a clearer story. Let’s dive in.
ZIP code 99004 is Cheney, but the housing story here reaches beyond one city line. WSDOT’s West Plains study area includes Cheney, Airway Heights, Spokane County, Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane International Airport, and nearby tribal lands, with the corridor centered on US 2 and I-90.
That matters because many buyers and renters do not see the West Plains as a one-town market. They are comparing commute times, access to major job centers, and housing costs across the broader west side of Spokane County.
Transit also plays a role in that regional connection. Spokane Transit’s Cheney service links Cheney with downtown Spokane and the West Plains Transit Center, with connections to Airway Heights and Medical Lake, which helps widen the practical housing search area for people working across the corridor.
Spokane International Airport is one of the clearest job engines in the West Plains. According to Spokane Airports, the airport supports more than 3,000 jobs and continues to expand transportation, logistics, and airfield aerospace activity.
The scale of activity is significant. In 2024, the airport recorded more than 4.2 million passengers and 67,298 cargo tons, which reflects the kind of regional infrastructure that tends to support long-term housing demand nearby.
The airport area is not just about flights and passenger traffic. Spokane Airports reports that the region has nearly 100 aerospace suppliers, about $1 billion in aerospace revenue, and more than 7,000 aerospace workers.
That kind of employment base matters because it can support steady housing demand over time. When a market has multiple job types tied to logistics, manufacturing, and aerospace, demand is usually more durable than if it depends on one employer alone.
Spokane County’s employment picture supports this trend, even if it is not a boom in every sector. In December 2025, the Spokane-Spokane Valley MSA had 266,100 total nonfarm jobs, up 0.5% year over year, while transportation, warehousing, and utilities rose 11.0% to 13,100 jobs.
Manufacturing also grew to 17,400 jobs, up 0.6% year over year. Spokane County’s unemployment rate was 5.1%, and 2024 covered employment averaged 243,161 workers with an average annual wage of $65,458.
For housing, the takeaway is simple: growth is real, but it is concentrated. The strongest pressure appears near airport, freight, and transit-linked areas, which helps explain why West Plains housing demand can feel more active than the countywide averages alone might suggest.
HUD estimates the Spokane housing market area population at 607,700 as of June 1, 2025, and forecasts growth to 618,600 by June 1, 2028. Households are expected to rise from 244,750 to 250,100 over that same period.
More households usually mean more competition for both rental and for-sale housing, especially in areas where commute access is a major selling point. That includes 99004 and the larger West Plains corridor.
There is supply coming online. HUD reported 4,088 total building permits through May 2025, including 2,044 rental permits and 2,043 sales permits.
That balance matters because it shows both rental and ownership housing are being built. Still, new construction does not automatically solve availability issues in the most in-demand pockets, especially when job growth is clustered around major employment nodes.
Even with new development, the market remains constrained. HUD reported a 1.5% for-sale vacancy rate, which points to limited ownership inventory.
That low vacancy helps explain why buyers in the West Plains often need to move quickly when a well-positioned home hits the market. It also helps sellers understand why presentation and pricing strategy can make a meaningful difference.
For many buyers, the West Plains decision comes down to value versus proximity. Cheney and Airway Heights offer a useful side-by-side view of how job growth may be influencing housing choices.
As of April 30, 2026, Zillow reported an average home value of $422,802 in Cheney, with 70 homes for sale and 24 new listings. In Airway Heights, the average home value was $376,855, with 21 homes for sale and 7 new listings.
On the rental side, Zillow reported average rent of $1,424 in Cheney and $1,693 in Airway Heights. That rent gap suggests housing closer to airport-linked employment can command a premium, even when home values differ.
This does not mean one area is always the better buy. It means your decision should reflect your commute, budget, property type, and long-term plans.
Spokane County remains competitive. Redfin reported a median sale price of $428,653 for the three months ending April 2026, with homes selling in an average of 28 days, 31.7% selling above list price, and an average sale-to-list ratio of 99.5%.
That is a market where you still need to be prepared, but it is not the same as the most frenzied pandemic-era conditions. In practical terms, buyers need a clear price ceiling, realistic expectations, and a good sense of where they are willing to compromise.
If you are focused on 99004, think beyond the house itself. Job growth around the airport, freight routes, and regional transit means proximity can carry real value, especially if your daily routine depends on easy west-side access.
For some buyers, Cheney may offer a better fit because of available listings and the local feel. For others, a location closer to airport-linked employment or regional connectors may be worth a higher monthly cost.
Active inventory in both Cheney and Airway Heights remains fairly lean based on the available listing counts. That means the best homes often stand out quickly.
When you know your priorities in advance, you are less likely to hesitate on the homes that genuinely match your needs. In a tight market, clarity is one of your biggest advantages.
If your home offers practical access to major West Plains employment centers, that can strengthen buyer interest. Airport, logistics, manufacturing, and transit-related growth all support the idea that more people are looking seriously at this side of the county.
Still, demand is not uniform across every block or every property type. Buyers remain price-sensitive, and the countywide job picture is growing modestly rather than explosively.
A strong market does not mean every listing can stretch the numbers. Today’s buyers have data, they compare options carefully, and they notice when a home is priced ahead of the market.
That makes strategy important. Sellers tend to benefit most when the home is well prepared, marketed professionally, and positioned correctly from the start.
When inventory is tight, buyers often make fast decisions based on what feels move-in ready and well maintained. A polished presentation helps your home compete for buyers looking to shorten commutes or gain better access to West Plains job centers.
That is especially true in markets where practical lifestyle benefits drive decisions. Easy access, clean condition, and a strong first impression can help turn local demand into stronger offers.
WSDOT describes the West Plains corridor as rapidly developing and expects traffic to keep increasing with planned land use development. The area’s rail, interstate, and airport connections also support ongoing freight movement and employment growth.
For housing in 99004, that points to continued relevance rather than a short-lived spike. The West Plains is becoming more interconnected, and Cheney sits within a broader market shaped by jobs, transportation, and limited inventory.
If you are buying, that means focusing on long-term fit, not just headline prices. If you are selling, it means understanding how your home fits into a larger regional demand story that buyers are already noticing.
If you want help reading the market in 99004 or comparing Cheney with other West Plains options, Patricia O'Callaghan/SpokaneREAL offers thoughtful buyer and seller representation grounded in local insight, strong marketing, and skilled negotiation.
We pride ourselves in providing personalized solutions that bring our clients closer to their dream properties and enhance their long-term wealth.