Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Federal Way leads 12 of 21 categories
Everett
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
12
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.
Everett, WA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Federal Way
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3219.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Median income trails Federal Way by $2,554/yr
Federal Way, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $17k less ($454,300 vs $471,200)
Households earn $2,554 more per year on average
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
Everett
Violent Crime
51% lower
265.1 vs 545.4 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Federal Way
Median Income
$2,554
$80,360 vs $77,806/yr
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$17k less
$454,300 vs $471,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 30.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 55.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 21 categories. Everett wins 9 and Federal Way wins 12. 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 Everett to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $454,300 median home), income ($77,806 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Federal Way, WA are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.