Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $18,497 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $92k less ($454,300 vs $546,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fairfield by $18,497/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$18,497
$98,857 vs $80,360/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
9% lower
498.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
Fairfield
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$92k less
$454,300 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $80,360 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 30.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 13 and Federal Way wins 9. 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 Fairfield to Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $454,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Federal Way, WA are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.