Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Salt Lake City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $8,003 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Salt Lake City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.6%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Federal Way by $8,003/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$8,003
$80,360 vs $72,357/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
37% lower
545.4 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 11 and Salt Lake City wins 12. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $458,600 median home), income ($80,360 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 685 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.