Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 22 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $571k less ($454,300 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1089/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,749)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $42,588/yr
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)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Irvine, CA
Pros
85% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $42,588 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Federal Way
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$571k less
$454,300 vs $1,025,700
Irvine
Median Income
$42,588
$122,948 vs $80,360/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
85% lower
84.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 22 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Irvine wins 14. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($80,360 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Irvine, CA are about 972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.