Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Federal Way leads 14 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($87,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $809/mo less ($851 vs $1,660)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $43,089/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 5.5%)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $43,089 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$367k less
$87,400 vs $454,300
Cleveland
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 80.7°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Income
$43,089
$80,360 vs $37,271/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
65% lower
545.4 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 208⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 30.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 9 and Federal Way wins 14. 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 Cleveland to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $454,300 median home), income ($37,271 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Federal Way, WA are about 2,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.