Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Meridian
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Meridian
Median income trails Meridian by $12,936/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Meridian, ID
Pros
73% less violent crime than Federal Way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.7%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,936 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$12,936
$93,296 vs $80,360/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
73% lower
146.8 vs 545.4 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$29k less
$425,800 vs $454,300
Meridian
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 5 and Meridian wins 18. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $425,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Meridian, ID are about 385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.