Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 16 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Orange
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($454,300 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,148)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $28,975/yr
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
Orange, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $28,975 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$394k less
$454,300 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$28,975
$109,335 vs $80,360/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
59% lower
226.1 vs 545.4 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Orange
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 16 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 7 and Orange wins 16. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $848,200 median home), income ($80,360 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Orange, CA are about 963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.