Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Jersey City
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $46k less ($454,300 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $139/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,799)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
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)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Jersey City by $10,791/yr
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,791 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Longer commutes — 37.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Violent Crime
3% lower
545.4 vs 561.6 per 100k
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$46k less
$454,300 vs $500,100
Jersey City
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Jersey City
Median Income
$10,791
$91,151 vs $80,360/yr
Jersey City
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jersey City is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 13 and Jersey City wins 10. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $500,100 median home), income ($80,360 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Jersey City, NJ are about 2,402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.