Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Federal Way leads 14 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Richmond
Homes cost $171k less ($454,300 vs $624,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $193/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,853)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Richmond by $6,258/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Households earn $6,258 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 77°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Federal Way
Violent Crime
41% lower
545.4 vs 923.1 per 100k
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$171k less
$454,300 vs $624,800
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Federal Way
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 76.8°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$6,258
$86,618 vs $80,360/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 14 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 14 and Richmond wins 9. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $624,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Richmond, CA are about 647 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.