Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Cambridge leads 14 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
9
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $41,179 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
20% less violent crime than Federal Way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $543k less ($454,300 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $968/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $41,179/yr
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Cambridge
Median Income
$41,179
$121,539 vs $80,360/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
20% lower
436.7 vs 545.4 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Cambridge
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$543k less
$454,300 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, 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 | $997,600⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Cambridge is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 14 and Federal Way wins 9. 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 Cambridge to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $454,300 median home), income ($121,539 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Federal Way, WA are about 2,487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.