Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Newark
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $33,900 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.5%)
6% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($312,300 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,660)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $33,900/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$33,900
$80,360 vs $46,460/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
6% lower
545.4 vs 581.2 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Median Home Value
$142k less
$312,300 vs $454,300
Newark
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Newark is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 13 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 13 and Newark wins 10. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $312,300 median home), income ($80,360 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Newark, NJ are about 2,397 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.