Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 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
Hartford
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $38,519 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Hartford
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($198,900 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $506/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,660)
5% less violent crime than Federal Way
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $38,519/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$38,519
$80,360 vs $41,841/yr
Federal Way
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.6% unemployment
Hartford
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
5% lower
515.8 vs 545.4 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$255k less
$198,900 vs $454,300
Hartford
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,154 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 121,057 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Hartford 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 Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $198,900 median home), income ($80,360 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Hartford, CT are about 2,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.