Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 11 of 21 categories
Federal Way
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Households earn $9,032 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Nashville-Davidson
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($351,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $268/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,660)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Federal Way by $9,032/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$9,032
$80,360 vs $71,328/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
51% lower
545.4 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Home Value
$103k less
$351,400 vs $454,300
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Nashville-Davidson
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $71,328 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 11 of 21 categories. Federal Way wins 10 and Nashville-Davidson 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $351,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 1,967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.