Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Lubbock leads 13 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Lubbock
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $21,626 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°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 22% higher than Lubbock
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($181,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $567/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $21,626/yr
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$21,626
$80,360 vs $58,734/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
34% lower
545.4 vs 821.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$273k less
$181,600 vs $454,300
Lubbock
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| 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) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 13 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 10 and Lubbock wins 13. 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $181,600 median home), income ($80,360 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Lubbock, TX are about 1,427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.