Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($454,300 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,860)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Norwalk by $10,899/yr
Norwalk, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $10,899 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Federal Way
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$139k less
$454,300 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$10,899
$91,259 vs $80,360/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
31% lower
374.4 vs 545.4 per 100k
Norwalk
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| 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+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $593,100 median home), income ($80,360 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Norwalk, CA are about 952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.