Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Vallejo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $234/mo less ($1,660 vs $1,894)
Homes cost $61k less ($454,300 vs $515,500)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
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)
Property crime (4372.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Vallejo by $5,752/yr
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Households earn $5,752 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Violent Crime
26% lower
545.4 vs 739.8 per 100k
Federal Way
Median Home Value
$61k less
$454,300 vs $515,500
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Income
$5,752
$86,112 vs $80,360/yr
Vallejo
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ 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) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Vallejo wins 11. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $515,500 median home), income ($80,360 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Vallejo, CA are about 636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.