Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 15 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Households earn $17,246 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 19% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($204,800 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $646/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,660)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $17,246/yr
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$17,246
$80,360 vs $63,114/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
23% lower
545.4 vs 707.4 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$250k less
$204,800 vs $454,300
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $204,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 1,945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Federal Way, WA vs Yakima, WA
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Federal Way, WA vs Spokane Valley, WA
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Memphis, TN
Federal Way, WA vs Renton, WA
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Detroit, MI
Federal Way, WA vs Kirkland, WA
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Las Vegas, NV