Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 16 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
West Palm Beach
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
5% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Households earn $16,316 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°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
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($324,800 vs $454,300)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Federal Way by $16,316/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$16,316
$80,360 vs $64,044/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
5% lower
545.4 vs 575.8 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$130k less
$324,800 vs $454,300
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 16 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 7 and West Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $324,800 median home), income ($80,360 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,681 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.