Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Chula Vista leads 13 of 23 categories
Chula Vista
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
10
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.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $21,624 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 5.5%)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($454,300 vs $647,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $375/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,035)
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chula Vista by $21,624/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
Chula Vista
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Chula Vista
Median Income
$21,624
$101,984 vs $80,360/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
31% lower
375.8 vs 545.4 per 100k
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$193k less
$454,300 vs $647,100
Federal Way
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Chula Vista is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chula Vista leads 13 of 23 categories. Chula Vista wins 13 and Federal Way wins 10. 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 Chula Vista to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $454,300 median home), income ($101,984 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Federal Way, WA are about 1,052 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.