Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 West Valley City leads 14 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
West Valley City
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than West Valley City
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($333,600 vs $454,300)
14% less violent crime than Federal Way
Rent averages $300/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
West Valley City
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$1,359
$81,719 vs $80,360/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
14% lower
469.5 vs 545.4 per 100k
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$121k less
$333,600 vs $454,300
West Valley City
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Valley City leads 14 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 9 and West Valley City 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $333,600 median home), income ($80,360 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and West Valley City, UT are about 687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.