Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Federal Way
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,660)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $16,334/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $16,334 more per year on average
Homes cost $74k less ($454,300 vs $528,600)
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
36% lower
350.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Federal Way
Median Income
$16,334
$80,360 vs $64,026/yr
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$74k less
$454,300 vs $528,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 99,614 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 15 and Federal Way wins 8. 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 Bellingham to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $454,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Federal Way, WA are about 100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.