At a Glance
Median Income
$82,144
$39,547 per capita
Home Value
$499,600
Zillow: $586,172
Median Rent
$1,738/mo
33.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
555/100K
4,417/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
31.1%
90.2% high school+
Unemployment
5.9%
9.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
27.1%
10.2% smoking rate
How Federal Way Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Federal Way's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Federal Way a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Federal Way residents earn a median household income of $82,144 , which is 9% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $39,547. The unemployment rate stands at 5.9% (64% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 9.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 20,820 business establishments, including 1,771 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Federal Way is $499,600 , 77% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $586,172. Median rent is $1,738/month, with 33.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 107.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1983.
Safety & Crime
Federal Way reports 555 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 46% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,417/100K. The murder rate is 5.2/100K.
Education
31.1% of adults in Federal Way hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(8% below the national average).
90.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Federal Way has an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C).
Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 39.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 44.
Data Overview
People
Population99,232
Median Age37.6 yrs
Density4,446/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born29.1%
Veterans6.9%
Economy
B+
Median Income$82,144
Per Capita$39,547
Unemployment5.9%
Poverty9.8%
County GDP$64,941M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,354
Housing
B
Home Value$499,600
Rent$1,738
Ownership55.7%
Zillow$586,172
Housing Units38,254
Rent Burden33.7%
Crime
F
Violent555/100K
Property4,417/100K
Murder5.2/100K
Assault342/100K
Burglary575/100K
Health
Obesity27.1%
Diabetes9.2%
Smoking10.2%
Heart Disease4.7%
Premature Death7,855/100K
Climate
Avg Temp54°F
Rain39.3 in/yr
AQI44 (Good)
Elevation413 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+31.1%
High School+90.2%
Graduate+9.5%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 43% / D 54%
Commute32 min
Broadband93.5%
Internet Speed162 Mbps
EV Stations13
Libraries29
Did You Know?
Federal Way was founded in 1929.
The median home in Federal Way was built in 1983.
The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International (10 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.420 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
13.6% of the population has a disability.
29.1% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 162 Mbps.
There are 1,771 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 86 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.