Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 15 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Vacaville
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Rent averages $481/mo less ($1,660 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $106k less ($454,300 vs $560,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vacaville by $26,404/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $26,404 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$106k less
$454,300 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Median Income
$26,404
$106,764 vs $80,360/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
46% lower
293.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
18.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 15 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 8 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $560,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Vacaville, CA are about 619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.