Spokane metro, WA relocation guide
Moving to Cheney, WA
About Cheney
Cheney is a college town of roughly 12,500–13,000 residents about 15 miles southwest of Spokane, home to Eastern Washington University. A historic railroad town on the Columbia Plateau, it keeps a genuine small-town downtown while the university and nearby Fairchild Air Force Base give it a younger, more transient population than its size suggests — military families cycle through regularly, which makes it unusually welcoming to newcomers. Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge sits minutes south.
Home prices in Cheney
The median listing price in Cheney is $465,000.
Top places in Cheney
- Eastern Washington University — Division I campus anchoring the town (the 1925 Cheney Normal School photo below shows its predecessor).
- Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge — 23,000+ acres of wetlands and ponderosa pine minutes south.
- Historic downtown Cheney and the 1907 Interurban Depot (shown in the Commons photo below).
- Cheney Rodeo — annual summer rodeo.
- Columbia Plateau Trail — rail-trail for biking and hiking.
- Sutton Park and Salnave Park — in-town parks.
Commuting from Cheney
- Drive to downtown Spokane: approximately 22–25 minutes via WA-904 (Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway) to I-90 (farrgroupnw.com cites 22–23 minutes; Rome2Rio cites a 17.7-mile / 22-minute drive; read September 24, 2026).
- STA bus: Spokane Transit Authority's Cheney/West Plains and EWU lines connect Cheney and the university directly to downtown Spokane in about 34–36 minutes (per Rome2Rio, read September 24, 2026).
- Spokane International Airport is about 15 miles north — a genuine asset for travelers.
Schools in Cheney
Public schools: Cheney School District. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
Cheney FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Cheney, WA?
The median listing price in Cheney is $465,000. Median listing price (September 2026 research snapshot) - How is the commute from Cheney, WA?
Drive to downtown Spokane: approximately 22–25 minutes via WA-904 (Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway) to I-90 (farrgroupnw.com cites 22–23 minutes; Rome2Rio cites a 17.7-mile / 22-minute drive; read September 24, 2026). - Which school district serves Cheney, WA?
Cheney is served by Cheney School District. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.