Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 16 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
West Jordan
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
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 West Jordan by $18,642/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than West Jordan
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
46% less violent crime than Federal Way
Households earn $18,642 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,660)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
West Jordan
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$18,642
$99,002 vs $80,360/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
46% lower
294.2 vs 545.4 per 100k
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$42k less
$412,100 vs $454,300
West Jordan
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 65 ✓ 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 | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 16 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 7 and West Jordan wins 16. 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $412,100 median home), income ($80,360 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and West Jordan, UT are about 691 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.