Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories
Downey
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Federal Way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Households earn $3,876 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($454,300 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,814)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
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
Median income trails Downey by $3,876/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$3,876
$84,236 vs $80,360/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
16% lower
460.5 vs 545.4 per 100k
Downey
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$225k less
$454,300 vs $679,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 30.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories. Downey wins 10 and Federal Way wins 13. 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 Downey to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $454,300 median home), income ($84,236 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Federal Way, WA are about 950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.