Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,852 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($454,300 vs $684,900)
13% less violent crime than Boston
Rent averages $321/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,981)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
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
Median income trails Boston by $8,852/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Median Income
$8,852
$89,212 vs $80,360/yr
Boston
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Violent Crime
13% lower
545.4 vs 627.9 per 100k
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$231k less
$454,300 vs $684,900
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Boston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Boston wins 11 and Federal Way wins 12. 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 Boston to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $454,300 median home), income ($89,212 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Federal Way, WA are about 2,492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.