Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Springfield
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $17,941 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $307k less ($147,700 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($913 vs $1,660)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $17,941/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$17,941
$80,360 vs $62,419/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
39% lower
545.4 vs 901.2 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$307k less
$147,700 vs $454,300
Springfield
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 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 | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 9 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $147,700 median home), income ($80,360 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Springfield, IL are about 1,703 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.