Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas leads 14 of 22 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Las Vegas
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $14,004 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
21% less violent crime than Federal Way
Homes cost $89k less ($365,300 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $304/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $14,004/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$14,004
$80,360 vs $66,356/yr
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
21% lower
429.8 vs 545.4 per 100k
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$89k less
$365,300 vs $454,300
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
27.0°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $66,356 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 14 of 22 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Las Vegas wins 14. 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $365,300 median home), income ($80,360 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Las Vegas, NV are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.