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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Federal Way, WA

Thinking about moving to Federal Way, WA? With a population just over 100,000, this vibrant city offers affordable home prices around $484,000 and average rents of $1,730. Residents enjoy a moderate cost of living, a 32-minute average commute, and access to scenic Pacific Northwest weather with mild summers and wet winters. While property crime rates are higher than average, Federal Way features diverse neighborhoods, convenient access to major hospitals, and a variety of public and private school options—making it a solid choice for families and commuters alike.

Demographics - Federal Way, WA

Demographics - Federal Way, WA

Federal Way is home to just over 101,000 residents, offering a diverse community where nearly 40% identify as White, 17% as Asian, and 11% as Black, with over 20% of the population speaking a language other than English at home. The median age is 36.4, reflecting a balanced mix of families and working professionals. The city has a moderate population density, creating a vibrant yet comfortable urban atmosphere.

demograph population
Population:
101,030
demograph density
Density:
3,300 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
36.4
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
97 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
20.6%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
39.2%
demograph blacks
Black:
11.1%
demograph asian
Asian:
17.3%
demograph others
Others:
32.4%
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People moving

Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Federal Way, WA?

Federal Way’s cost of living is moderately above the national average, with a median home value of $484,000 and average rent at $1,730 per month. Utilities and transportation costs are reasonable, while housing is the largest expense. State taxes are relatively low, making the area attractive for those seeking affordability in the Seattle metro region.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$484,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$1,730
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$104
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,380
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$2,350
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$755
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
0%
|
High:
9.0%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
122.5
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
117.7
cost of living housing
Housing:
140.9
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
97.6
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
108.2
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
111.2
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
104.0

Crime

Crime

Is Federal Way, WA a safe place to live?

While Federal Way’s property crime rate is higher than the national average, with a 1 in 32 chance of experiencing property crime, violent crime remains comparatively lower at 356 incidents per 100,000 residents. Residents should take standard safety precautions, especially in certain neighborhoods. The city continues to work on community safety and policing efforts.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
356
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
3,160
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
3,516
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 281
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 32
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Federal Way, WA year-round?

Federal Way features classic Pacific Northwest weather, with mild summers averaging highs around 77°F and cool, wet winters with highs near 48°F. The city receives about 38 inches of rain annually and enjoys sunshine about 44% of the year. This climate supports lush greenery and outdoor activities year-round.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
36°F
weather max
Max:
48°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
42°F
weather max
Max:
63°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
54°F
weather max
Max:
77°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
45°F
weather max
Max:
62°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
38.0 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
44%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Federal Way’s residents enjoy a median household income of $77,200 and a family income of $88,000, with nearly 90% of adults holding at least a high school diploma. The average commute is just over 32 minutes, and about 5.6% use public transportation. The city’s diverse population includes more than 30% non-English speakers, enriching local culture and community life.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$41,300
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$77,200
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$88,000
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$34,900
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$48,600
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$41,900
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
9.8%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
31.6%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$1,730
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
4.7%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
5.6%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
32.1 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
89.4%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
28.6%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Federal Way, WA?

Federal Way offers a variety of educational options, including well-rated public schools such as Federal Way High School and Lakota Middle School, as well as several private and parochial schools. Local colleges like Highline College and Green River College are just a short drive away, offering higher education and workforce training opportunities. The city’s schools have a high graduation rate, supporting families and lifelong learners.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Federal Way High School
education publicStreet
Street:
30611 16th Ave S
education publicPhone
Phone:
253-945-5400
education publicStudents
Students:
1,700
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
20.7


education publicName
Name:
Lakota Middle School
education publicStreet
Street:
1415 S 314th St
education publicPhone
Phone:
253-945-4800
education publicStudents
Students:
850
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
18.3


education privateSchoolsPrivate Schools
education privateName
Name:
St. Vincent de Paul School
education privateStreet
Street:
30527 8th Ave S
education privatePhone
Phone:
253-839-3532
education privateStudents
Students:
210


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Highline College
education collegeCity
City:
Des Moines
education collegeState
State:
WA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
7 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
15,100


education collegeName
Name:
Green River College
education collegeCity
City:
Auburn
education collegeState
State:
WA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
10 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
7,900


Healthcare

Healthcare

Federal Way provides strong healthcare access, with major hospitals like St. Francis Hospital and MultiCare Auburn Medical Center offering comprehensive services, including emergency care. The area has 2.6 physicians per 1,000 residents, and over 91% of the population has health insurance. Residents benefit from reliable healthcare resources and facilities nearby.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
St. Francis Hospital
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
34515 9th Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(253) 944-4100
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
202 N Division St, Auburn, WA 98001
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(253) 833-7711
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
2.6
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
91.8%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
76.3
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Federal Way, WA?

The housing market in Federal Way is relatively stable, with a median home price of $484,000 and average rent for a two-bedroom apartment at $1,730. About 56% of homes are owner-occupied, and the area has a low foreclosure rate of 0.6%. Modest home appreciation and a reasonable vacancy rate make it accessible for both buyers and renters.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$484,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$1,730
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
55.8%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
5.1%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
2.7%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.6%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.6%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Residents of Federal Way handle vehicle registration and licensing through the Washington State Department of Licensing, conveniently located in Olympia and accessible online. The DMV provides comprehensive services for drivers, including licensing, title transfers, and renewals. Helpful customer service and an easy-to-navigate website streamline the process for new arrivals.

dmv state
State:
Washington
dmv department
Department:
Washington State Department of Licensing
dmv address
Address:
405 Black Lake Blvd SW, Olympia, WA 98502
dmv phone
Phone:
1-360-902-3900
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Federal Way, WA

Planning a relocation in or near Federal Way? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Federal Way.

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FAQs About Moving to Federal Way, WA

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Federal Way. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Federal Way climate and weather.

Moving within Federal Way usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Federal Way. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Federal Way offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Federal Way at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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