Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Homes cost $426k less ($454,300 vs $879,900)
30% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,945)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $35,708/yr
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
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $35,708 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Violent Crime
30% lower
545.4 vs 775.1 per 100k
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$426k less
$454,300 vs $879,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Seattle
Median Income
$35,708
$116,068 vs $80,360/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Federal Way wins 11 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $879,900 median home), income ($80,360 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Seattle, WA are about 21 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.