Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 18 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Omaha
Nebraska
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $10,158 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°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 21% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($210,300 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $561/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,660)
32% less violent crime than Federal Way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $10,158/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$10,158
$80,360 vs $70,202/yr
Omaha
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
32% lower
369.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$244k less
$210,300 vs $454,300
Omaha
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Omaha
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.2°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 18 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 5 and Omaha wins 18. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $210,300 median home), income ($80,360 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Omaha, NE are about 1,358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.