Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Beaverton leads 16 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Federal Way
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
33% less violent crime than Federal Way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,539 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $40k less ($454,300 vs $494,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Income
$8,539
$88,899 vs $80,360/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
33% lower
364.8 vs 545.4 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Beaverton
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 82.3°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$40k less
$454,300 vs $494,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 99,614 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 16 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 16 and Federal Way wins 7. 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 Beaverton to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $454,300 median home), income ($88,899 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Federal Way, WA are about 129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.