Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Peoria
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $22,292 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°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 24% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $308k less ($146,700 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $743/mo less ($917 vs $1,660)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $22,292/yr
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$22,292
$80,360 vs $58,068/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
59% lower
545.4 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$308k less
$146,700 vs $454,300
Peoria
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 113,054 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Peoria wins 15. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $146,700 median home), income ($80,360 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Peoria, IL are about 1,674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.