Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 20 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $11,027 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 102°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than St. George
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
St. George, UT
Pros
61% less violent crime than Federal Way
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,660)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $11,027/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$11,027
$80,360 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
61% lower
210.0 vs 545.4 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$39k less
$415,200 vs $454,300
St. George
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
25.1°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 20 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 3 and St. George wins 20. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $415,200 median home), income ($80,360 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and St. George, UT are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.