Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Carson leads 12 of 23 categories
Carson
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $22,685 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($454,300 vs $616,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $155/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,815)
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carson by $22,685/yr
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
Carson
Median Income
$22,685
$103,045 vs $80,360/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
23% lower
420.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
Federal Way
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$162k less
$454,300 vs $616,000
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 30.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 99,614 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carson leads 12 of 23 categories. Carson wins 12 and Federal Way wins 11. 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 Carson to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $454,300 median home), income ($103,045 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Federal Way, WA are about 955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.