Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 17 of 22 categories
Federal Way
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 107°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 Goodyear by $16,947/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
67% less violent crime than Federal Way
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,947 more per year on average
Homes cost $58k less ($396,100 vs $454,300)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$16,947
$97,307 vs $80,360/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
67% lower
182.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$58k less
$396,100 vs $454,300
Goodyear
Summer Heat
30.6°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 17 of 22 categories. Federal Way wins 5 and Goodyear wins 17. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $396,100 median home), income ($80,360 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Goodyear, AZ are about 1,102 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.