Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
St. Paul
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
12% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $10,441 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 24°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($264,900 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $486/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $10,441/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$10,441
$80,360 vs $69,919/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
12% lower
545.4 vs 617.7 per 100k
St. Paul
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$189k less
$264,900 vs $454,300
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
St. Paul
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 82.6°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and St. Paul wins 15. 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. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $264,900 median home), income ($80,360 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.