Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 San Diego leads 14 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
San Diego
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $329k less ($454,300 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,080)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
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 Diego by $18,297/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 Diego, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $18,297 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$329k less
$454,300 vs $783,300
Federal Way
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
San Diego
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
San Diego
Median Income
$18,297
$98,657 vs $80,360/yr
San Diego
Violent Crime
24% lower
412.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
San Diego
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 79.8°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Diego is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Diego leads 14 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 9 and San Diego wins 14. 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 Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $783,300 median home), income ($80,360 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and San Diego, CA are about 1,038 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.