Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 15 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Montgomery
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $26,194 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°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 Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($141,900 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $634/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,660)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $26,194/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$26,194
$80,360 vs $54,166/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
8% lower
545.4 vs 594.6 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$312k less
$141,900 vs $454,300
Montgomery
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Montgomery wins 15. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $141,900 median home), income ($80,360 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Montgomery, AL are about 2,149 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.