Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 College Station leads 17 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
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.
College Station, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Federal Way
Homes cost $149k less ($305,800 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $531/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $27,963/yr
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $27,963 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°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 22% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
69% lower
170.5 vs 545.4 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$149k less
$305,800 vs $454,300
College Station
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Income
$27,963
$80,360 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
College Station is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 17 of 23 categories. College Station wins 17 and Federal Way wins 6. 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 College Station to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $454,300 median home), income ($52,397 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Federal Way, WA are about 1,800 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.