Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
8
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $71k less ($383,000 vs $454,300)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,660)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Federal Way, WA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$71k less
$383,000 vs $454,300
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Income
$1,334
$80,360 vs $79,026/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
24% lower
545.4 vs 715.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 15 and Federal Way wins 8. 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 Colorado Springs to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $454,300 median home), income ($79,026 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Federal Way, WA are about 1,058 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.