Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Allen leads 20 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $40,899 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $64k less ($390,200 vs $454,300)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,747)
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $40,899/yr
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$40,899
$121,259 vs $80,360/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
80% lower
106.4 vs 545.4 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$64k less
$390,200 vs $454,300
Allen
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
18.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Allen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 20 of 23 categories. Allen wins 20 and Federal Way wins 3. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $454,300 median home), income ($121,259 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Federal Way, WA are about 1,660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.