Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county 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
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $14,273 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°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 Lexington-Fayette urban county
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($247,900 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $595/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,660)
52% less violent crime than Federal Way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $14,273/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$14,273
$80,360 vs $66,087/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
52% lower
262.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$206k less
$247,900 vs $454,300
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 22 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $247,900 median home), income ($80,360 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 2,005 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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