Living in Federal Way, WA
Suburb in Washington
Federal Way is a suburb in Washington, home to about 99,000 people, with 3.3 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Federal Way a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 75°F
- Easy flying: SEA is 9 mi away
- Great outdoors: coast or a lake close by
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $552k, and rent is $3,270 a month
- Fewer graduates: 31% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Federal Way ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Federal Way: common questions
What is the cost of living in Federal Way?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $552k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,270 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 111, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Federal Way?
Washington collects about $70 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.88% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Federal Way safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.9× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Federal Way?
Federal Way has cool winters: winter days average around 49°F and summer days around 75°F, with roughly 6″ of snow a year.
Does Federal Way get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 13 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.91 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Federal Way?
The nearest major airport is SEA, about 9 mi away.
How Federal Way scores
Each bar compares Federal Way with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Federal Way right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.