Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Indianapolis
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $21,250 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°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 18% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($184,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $614/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,660)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $21,250/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$21,250
$80,360 vs $59,110/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
38% lower
545.4 vs 877.9 per 100k
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$270k less
$184,600 vs $454,300
Indianapolis
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 83.7°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,046 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 33.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 41.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $184,600 median home), income ($80,360 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Indianapolis, IN are about 1,867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.