Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem 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 ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $25,944 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°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 22% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($187,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $704/mo less ($956 vs $1,660)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $25,944/yr
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$25,944
$80,360 vs $54,416/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
33% lower
545.4 vs 809.7 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$267k less
$187,400 vs $454,300
Winston-Salem
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 9 and Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $187,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.