Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 13 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Shreveport
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $34,393 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Shreveport
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($168,900 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $715/mo less ($945 vs $1,660)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $34,393/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$34,393
$80,360 vs $45,967/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
56% lower
545.4 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$285k less
$168,900 vs $454,300
Shreveport
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 13 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 10 and Shreveport wins 13. 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $168,900 median home), income ($80,360 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.