Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton leads 11 of 21 categories
Federal Way
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Renton
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($454,300 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,864)
Cons
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)
Median income trails Renton by $11,932/yr
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Renton, WA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Federal Way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $11,932 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$123k less
$454,300 vs $576,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Renton
Median Income
$11,932
$92,292 vs $80,360/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
38% lower
339.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 105,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Renton leads 11 of 21 categories. Federal Way wins 10 and Renton wins 11. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $576,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Renton, WA are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.