Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Warren leads 14 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Warren
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $18,727 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°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
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Warren
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($169,300 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $521/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,660)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $18,727/yr
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$18,727
$80,360 vs $61,633/yr
Federal Way
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Warren
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Median Home Value
$285k less
$169,300 vs $454,300
Warren
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 74 ✓ 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 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 138,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Warren leads 14 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 9 and Warren wins 14. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $169,300 median home), income ($80,360 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Warren, MI are about 1,931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.