Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $36,204 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.5%)
6% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°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 15% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($111,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $665/mo less ($995 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $36,204/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$36,204
$80,360 vs $44,156/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
6% lower
545.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$343k less
$111,400 vs $454,300
Rochester
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $111,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Rochester, NY are about 2,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.