Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $24,626 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($243,300 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $646/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $24,626/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$24,626
$80,360 vs $55,734/yr
Federal Way
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$211k less
$243,300 vs $454,300
Yakima
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 125⚠ 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 | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 11 and Yakima wins 12. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $243,300 median home), income ($80,360 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Yakima, WA are about 98 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.