Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Charleston leads 20 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
3
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.
Charleston, SC
Pros
34% less violent crime than Federal Way
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Rent averages $143/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,660)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$3,531
$83,891 vs $80,360/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
34% lower
357.6 vs 545.4 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$15k less
$438,900 vs $454,300
Charleston
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 20 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 20 and Federal Way wins 3. 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 Charleston to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $454,300 median home), income ($83,891 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Federal Way, WA are about 2,416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.