Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $8,993 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 98°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($368,800 vs $454,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,660)
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Federal Way by $8,993/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.5%)
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 Income
$8,993
$80,360 vs $71,367/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
35% lower
545.4 vs 834.7 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$86k less
$368,800 vs $454,300
Lancaster
Summer Heat
20.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 11 and Lancaster wins 12. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $368,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Lancaster, CA are about 898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.