Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 17 of 21 categories
Federal Way
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Mesa
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ 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 106°F
Households earn $6,594 more per year on average
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 15% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($327,700 vs $454,300)
11% less violent crime than Federal Way
Rent averages $308/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,660)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $6,594/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$6,594
$80,360 vs $73,766/yr
Mesa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Violent Crime
11% lower
482.7 vs 545.4 per 100k
Mesa
Median Home Value
$127k less
$327,700 vs $454,300
Mesa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
29.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Mesa leads 17 of 21 categories. Federal Way wins 4 and Mesa wins 17. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($80,360 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Mesa, AZ are about 1,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.