Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $331k less ($123,000 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $665/mo less ($995 vs $1,660)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $37,896/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.5%)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $37,896 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$331k less
$123,000 vs $454,300
Birmingham
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Income
$37,896
$80,360 vs $42,464/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
56% lower
545.4 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 30.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 10 and Federal Way wins 13. 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 Birmingham to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $454,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Federal Way, WA are about 2,074 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.