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Living in
Federal Way.
About
Life in Federal Way
This is a solidly middle-class suburban community of just over 100,000 people in King County's southwest corner, and it genuinely works if you want suburban stability without paying Seattle prices. The median home hovers around $500,000 and median rent sits near $1,797 a month—still steep for the Pacific Northwest, but notably cheaper than Seattle proper, and the median household income of $87,000 suggests most people here are actually affording it without constant financial stress. The job market is stable rather than flashy; major employers include school districts, healthcare, and city government, plus World Vision International has its U.S. headquarters here, so there's steady white-collar work alongside blue-collar opportunities.
Federal Way at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Foreign-Born
31.9%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Federal Way: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Federal Way, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (21.3%), and 16.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.5%
of households
Married Couples
45.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WA
Rent, home values, and income in Federal Way
Rent and home values here are close to the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,706
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $581,567 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above WA average
Unemployment in Federal Way and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Federal Way is 0.6 percentage points higher than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Federal Way Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute32.1 min avg
How Federal Way residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Federal Way, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 7% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Federal Way runs 7% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
352.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,668
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Federal Way Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
King County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In King County, which includes Federal Way, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Heavy Rain | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $474,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
29 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Federal Way is about 4% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes Federal Way, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
King County, county-wide
Federal Way is about 4% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Federal Way has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.6"
Annual Snowfall
6.3"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
27
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
156
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 37°F | 6.03" |
| Feb | 50°F | 37°F | 4.03" |
| Mar | 55°F | 40°F | 4.38" |
| Apr | 60°F | 44°F | 3.39" |
| May | 67°F | 49°F | 2.00" |
| Jun | 71°F | 53°F | 1.42" |
| Jul | 77°F | 57°F | 0.55" |
| Aug | 77°F | 57°F | 0.83" |
| Sep | 71°F | 53°F | 1.57" |
| Oct | 61°F | 47°F | 4.09" |
| Nov | 52°F | 41°F | 6.50" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 6.02" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Federal Way
Federal Way has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
St Francis Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Multicare Auburn Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Auburn
Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Tacoma
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Tacoma
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Federal Way
Federal Way's student/teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 30.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
32
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Federal Way (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 5,313 students · in-state tuition $5,578 · 42% graduate · median earnings $52,562 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,965 students · in-state tuition $5,172 · 47% graduate · median earnings $54,621 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,668 students · in-state tuition $5,670 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,313 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
6.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,185 students · in-state tuition $13,577 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,401 students · in-state tuition $53,096 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,109 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Federal Way
Federal Way has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
20 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
43 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
65 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
71 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Federal Way
Federal Way 320th Library
848 S 320th Street, Federal Way
Federal Way Library
34200 1st Way South, Federal Way
Cities Near Federal Way
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Federal Way?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Federal Way FAQ
Is Federal Way, Washington affordable?⌄
Federal Way's median rent is $1,797/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $86,909/year. Median home value is $552,800.
Is Federal Way, Washington safe?⌄
Federal Way's violent crime rate was 353 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2668 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Federal Way, Washington?⌄
Federal Way has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Federal Way, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Federal Way is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,797/month and median household income is $86,909/year. The median home value is $552,800. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Federal Way, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Federal Way is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from