Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 21 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $483k less ($454,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $590/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,250)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $55,248/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
Kirkland, WA
Pros
89% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $55,248 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$483k less
$454,300 vs $937,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Kirkland
Median Income
$55,248
$135,608 vs $80,360/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
89% lower
60.6 vs 545.4 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 21 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Kirkland wins 13. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $937,700 median home), income ($80,360 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Kirkland, WA are about 27 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.