Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 13 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Providence
Rhode Island
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $18,995 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($293,000 vs $454,300)
49% less violent crime than Federal Way
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $18,995/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$18,995
$80,360 vs $61,365/yr
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
49% lower
276.7 vs 545.4 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$161k less
$293,000 vs $454,300
Providence
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 79 ✓ 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 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 13 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 10 and Providence wins 13. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $293,000 median home), income ($80,360 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Providence, RI are about 2,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.