| Publication | Name and Description | Rank | Year |
| League of American Bicyclists | Washington - Most Bike Friendly State | #1 | 2009 |
| RelocateAmerica.com | America's Top 100 Places to Live for 2009 | N/A | 2009 |
| American Cowboy Magazine | 20 Best Places to Live The West | N/A | 2009 |
| U.S. News & World Report | Three area universities get top rankings in the West | N/A | 2008 |
| Inc. Magazine | Best Cities for Doing Business | #14 | 2008 |
| Business Facilities Magazine | #4 Greenest State, #6 Biotech Venture Capital Investments, #7 Most Educated Workforce, #8 Top Manufacturing Momentum | N/A | 2008 |
| League of American Bicyclists | Washington - Most Bike Friendly State | #1 | 2008 |
| America's Promise Alliance | 100 Best Communities for Young People | N/A | 2008 |
| Country Home Magazine | Best Green Cities | #37 | 2008 |
| CNNMoney.com | 100 Best Places to Live and Launch | #77 | 2008 |
| Forbes Magazine | Best Places for Business and Careers | #9 | 2008 |
| Hospital and Health Network | 5 local hospitals recognized as part of the nation's "100 Most Wired" | N/A | 2007 |
| Forbes Magazine | The Best States For Business | #5 | 2007 |
| Business Week | 20 Best Affordable Suburbs in the West | N/A | 2007 |
| Forbes Magazine | Best Places for Business and Careers | #20 | 2007 |
| America's Promise Alliance | 100 Best Communities for Young People | N/A | 2007 |
| Expedia's Insider Select | Davenport Hotel and Tower "Best in the World" | #6 | 2007 |
| Inc. Magazine | Best Midsize Cities for Doing Business | #22 | 2007 |
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council | Top Ten Friendliest Policy Environments for Entrepreneurship | #5 | 2006 |
| Expansion Management | Top Logistics Metros in the Western U.S. | Top 10 | 2006 |
National Geographic
Adventure Magazine | Top Six US Adventure Cities | N//A | 2006 |
| Sporting News | 99 Best Sporting Cities | #99 | 2006 |
| Money Magazine | US Top 10 Real Estate Hot Spots | #9 | 2006 |
| Inc Magazine | City of Spokane named one of "Hottest Midsize Cities in the US" | #30 | 2006 |
| The Tax Foundation | States with the most business-friendly tax structure | #13 | 2006 |
| USA Today | Top 10 Places to Ice Skate | Top 10 | 2006 |
| Total 180! | Best Places to Live | Top 10 | 2005 |
| Entrepreneur.com | Top Midsize Cities for Entrepreneurs | #16 | 2005 |
| American Podiatric Medical Assoc. | Best Walking Cities | #16 | 2005 |
| Forbes Magazine | Safest Cities in the United States | #5 | 2005 |
| Biz Journals | America's Brainiest Metropolitan Area Ranking | #63 | 2005 |
| Popular Science | Top U.S. Cities for Medical and Emergency Technology | #2 | 2005 |
| America's Promise | 100 Best Communities for Young | N/A | 2005 |
| Expansion Management | Five Star Quality of Life MetroTop | 20% | 2005 |
| Expansion Management | Spokane School Districts | Blue Ribbon | 2005 |
| Prevention Magazine | Most Walkable Cities in the US | #5 | 2005 |
| Men's Journal | One of the 50 Best Places to Live | N/A | 2005 |
| Inc Magazine | Top Medium U.S. Cities for Doing Business | #18 | 2005 |
| Inc Magazine | 150 Best Places for Doing Business in America | #35 | 2005 |
| Forbes Magazine | 150 Best Places for Business | #114 | 2005 |
| Ladies Home Journal | Best Cities for Lifestyle of Women | #9 | 2005 |
| Advisory Council on Historic Preservation | "Preserve America Community" | N/A | 2005 |
| Population Connection | Most "kid friendly" of large cities | #2 | 2004 |
| Men's Health Magazine | 1001 Best Cities for Men | #16 | 2002 |
| Sunset Magazine | Spokane Falls is among "the West's best waterfalls" | N/A | 2001 |
| Sunset Magazine | One of the West's 24 Best Cities | N/A | 1999 |
| Readers Digest | Best Places to Raise a Family | #8 | 1997 |
| Golf Digest | Rock-Solid Golf at Rock-Bottom Prices | N/A | 1997 |
| Outside Magazine | One of America's Best Outdoor Towns | N/A | 1995 |
| U.S. News & World Rep | Top 145 Business Markets | #1 | 1995 |
Media 
