Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Lincoln
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $12,514 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°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 21% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($230,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $662/mo less ($998 vs $1,660)
36% less violent crime than Federal Way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $12,514/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$12,514
$80,360 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
36% lower
347.9 vs 545.4 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$224k less
$230,400 vs $454,300
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 7 and Lincoln wins 16. 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 Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $230,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.