Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Gresham
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $10,923 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Gresham, OR
Pros
25% less violent crime than Federal Way
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $43k less ($411,700 vs $454,300)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $10,923/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$10,923
$80,360 vs $69,437/yr
Gresham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Violent Crime
25% lower
410.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$43k less
$411,700 vs $454,300
Gresham
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $69,437 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 113,525 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 55.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Gresham wins 11. 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $411,700 median home), income ($80,360 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Gresham, OR are about 125 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.