Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Fort Collins
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($454,300 vs $497,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
50% less violent crime than Federal Way
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,660)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$1,383
$80,360 vs $78,977/yr
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$43k less
$454,300 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
50% lower
272.7 vs 545.4 per 100k
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Fort Collins wins 15. 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 Federal Way to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $497,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Fort Collins, CO are about 975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.