Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Lakewood
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Lakewood
Homes cost $40k less ($454,300 vs $494,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°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
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Violent Crime
31% lower
545.4 vs 787.2 per 100k
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$40k less
$454,300 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$2,426
$82,786 vs $80,360/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Lakewood wins 15. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $494,100 median home), income ($80,360 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Lakewood, CO are about 1,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.