Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Lynn
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Lynn
Households earn $10,314 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Lynn, MA
Pros
Rent averages $149/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,660)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $10,314/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$10,314
$80,360 vs $70,046/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
5% lower
545.4 vs 574.6 per 100k
Lynn
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lynn
Median Home Value
$12k less
$442,800 vs $454,300
Lynn
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 100,653 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lynn is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Lynn wins 11. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $442,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Lynn, MA are about 2,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.