Deer Park or Cheney? Help! (Spokane, Medical Lake: home, college, to live in)

[Mountainman2020]

Hi there,

My family and I are seeking some information about Spokane area. We are young with a growing family and looking to call a place home long-term. We are both born and raised in Western Washington and it seems this will be the best place for us (we've always liked the east side).

I have done some extensive research on the area and we really like Deer Park and Cheney. We're looking for 5-10 acres (we have horses). Budget for a home is not an issue. We also work from home so we have no commute.

My main point of creating this thread is to ask some locals that really know these areas what they would choose and why? I completely understand it's subjective and there's no wrong or right answer but I am not from this area and most often locals have the best advice.


I have leaning towards Deer Park (on Stevens County side). We like that it's a smaller town, and not a college town. But it seems Cheney has a slight edge on weather (less snow, average temps etc). Wildlife sightings such as cougars, bears and wolfs seem to be lower around Cheney as well.


Tough decision! Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[rumi79]

If you work from home check your Internet provider options in both places. I used to live in Medical Lake and our internet speed took me 20 years back to the DSL.
Otherwise both places are small towns. Cheney is far from college town, even though that's what they call it. I, personally, prefer the mountains.

[Walkaboutcda]

Originally Posted by Mountainman2020

Hi there,

My family and I are seeking some information about Spokane area. We are young with a growing family and looking to call a place home long-term. We are both born and raised in Western Washington and it seems this will be the best place for us (we've always liked the east side).

I have done some extensive research on the area and we really like Deer Park and Cheney. We're looking for 5-10 acres (we have horses). Budget for a home is not an issue. We also work from home so we have no commute.

My main point of creating this thread is to ask some locals that really know these areas what they would choose and why? I completely understand it's subjective and there's no wrong or right answer but I am not from this area and most often locals have the best advice.


I have leaning towards Deer Park (on Stevens County side). We like that it's a smaller town, and not a college town. But it seems Cheney has a slight edge on weather (less snow, average temps etc). Wildlife sightings such as cougars, bears and wolfs seem to be lower around Cheney as well.


Tough decision! Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I think the Deer Park area is much prettier than Cheney and as far as the weather it will only seem a bit different if the temps are around freezing. I used to live 3 miles outside of Cheney. I could have 8 inches of snow but by the time I was at my job in the Spokane Valley they had just rain. Once winter settles in everyone will get a fair amount of snow.

I would live near Deer Park if those were my choices. Be grateful that you don't have to commute, and take whatever precautions that are necessary to protect your horses.

[KnightStar05]

Deer Park is more agricultural so a lot of hills and farming. Cheney has more trees and less agriculture. Personally, I’d prefer Cheney since it’s not far from downtown (about 30 minutes) and all the shopping. There’s also lakes and the fish lake trail. As for a “college town” vibe, I’ve been there at night on several occasions and it’s not a big scene. Very small. Most of those kids head to the Bro-muda triangle in downtown.
Deer Park has a more deserted vibe going for it...Cheney has more markets and chains stores.

[Mountainman2020]

Massive delay on this but I’d like to say thank you on the responses. We are set to move within a year or so and still have our eye on Spokane area. Can anybody comment on how windy it is around Cheney? Wind charts show the average speed as twice the speeds of deer park. Which makes sense to me when I look at the surrounding mountains etc in Deer Park.