Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 17 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
110,358 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($454,300 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $282/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,942)
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $15,676/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $15,676 more per year on average
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$260k less
$454,300 vs $714,000
Federal Way
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 76.8°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$15,676
$96,036 vs $80,360/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
35% lower
354.5 vs 545.4 per 100k
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 110,358 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Federal Way is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Buenaventura (Ventura) leads 17 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 6 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 17. 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 San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $714,000 median home), income ($80,360 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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