Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,792 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Orem
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Orem, UT
Pros
68% less violent crime than Federal Way
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Federal Way by $2,792/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$2,792
$80,360 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
68% lower
174.5 vs 545.4 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$61k less
$392,900 vs $454,300
Orem
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 16 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 7 and Orem 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $392,900 median home), income ($80,360 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Orem, UT are about 717 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.