Sign In Register
Zoey M. living

Day-to-day life in Federal Way, WA

Curious what people think. You can expect to pay around $1,738 for rent here. The weather takes some getting used to.
27 upvotes

13 Replies

Katherine A.
haha yep pretty much
39 upvotes
Aubrey
literally same
39 upvotes
Quinn Jackson
accurate
38 upvotes
Ezekiel Ramos
yeah no that's not right
38 upvotes
Aurora Jones
same here
34 upvotes
Sadie Edwards
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
Dylan R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a pharmacist, 28, moved here 13 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Springfield and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Chain restaurants dominate
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The pet-friendliness situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. average vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: More affordable, family-friendly.

**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.

**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Salt Lake City, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $100K-$80K here.

**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
33 upvotes
Alexa
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.

I've been here 14 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is average.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Riverside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
27 upvotes
Roman Mitchell
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Greenfield for 11 years. Moved from Dallas for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.

**Employment:**
retail is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is improving - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Greenfield schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.

**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Not very walkable outside downtown. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And community vibe can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 9/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
22 upvotes
Ethan Parker
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a HR manager who relocated here from San Francisco about 3 years ago. The main reasons were work and work.

Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Lots of new development happening
- Lots of family-friendly activities

Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Limited shopping options

Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are competitive, gas is tough.

Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Definitely worth checking out..
19 upvotes
Cooper Sanchez
underrated comment
9 upvotes
Adrian Hughes
I'm a nurse and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
6 upvotes
Angel Mitchell
I've been living here for 4 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The nightlife is excellent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
4 upvotes
← Back to Federal Way Community