Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison 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
Madison
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 28°F
Households earn $5,465 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
53% less violent crime than Federal Way
Homes cost $128k less ($326,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,660)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $5,465/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$5,465
$80,360 vs $74,895/yr
Madison
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
53% lower
256.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$128k less
$326,600 vs $454,300
Madison
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Madison
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 16 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 7 and Madison 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $326,600 median home), income ($80,360 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Madison, WI are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.