Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Garland 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
Garland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $9,316 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($229,000 vs $454,300)
57% less violent crime than Federal Way
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,421 vs $1,660)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $9,316/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$9,316
$80,360 vs $71,044/yr
Garland
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
57% lower
232.7 vs 545.4 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$225k less
$229,000 vs $454,300
Garland
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $229,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $71,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 244,026 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Garland is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Garland 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 Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $229,000 median home), income ($80,360 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Garland, TX are about 1,671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.