Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Victorville, 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 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Victorville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $14,614 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
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
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($300,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,660)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $14,614/yr
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$14,614
$80,360 vs $65,746/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
46% lower
545.4 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Victorville
Median Home Value
$154k less
$300,600 vs $454,300
Victorville
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 134,417 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Victorville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Federal Way leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 12 and Victorville 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $300,600 median home), income ($80,360 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Victorville, CA are about 920 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.