Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
El Monte
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Federal Way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $20,431/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,431 more per year on average
Homes cost $143k less ($454,300 vs $597,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
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
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Violent Crime
22% lower
423.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
El Monte
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°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 Income
$20,431
$80,360 vs $59,929/yr
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$143k less
$454,300 vs $597,200
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 30.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. El Monte wins 11 and Federal Way wins 11. 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 El Monte to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $454,300 median home), income ($59,929 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Federal Way, WA are about 942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.