Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 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
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $24,240 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°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 20% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $321k less ($133,800 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $616/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,660)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $24,240/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$24,240
$80,360 vs $56,120/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
48% lower
545.4 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$321k less
$133,800 vs $454,300
Kansas City
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 172⚠ 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 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $133,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Kansas City, KS are about 1,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.