Federal Way, WA Local Data & Statistics

State: WA

Total population: 99,493 Household income: $86,909 Rent: $1,797

Overview

Total population

99,493

Rent

$1,797

Year built

1984

Household income

$86,909

Per capita income

$40,975

Poverty rate

13%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

59.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

Total population

99,493

Adults over 25

68,638

Total households

35,717

Household size

2.8 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$86,909

Per capita income

$40,975

Poverty rate

13%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

59.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,797

Year built

1984

Households that rent

44.7%

Households that own

55.3%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

36.9%

Black

18.1%

Asian

15.4%

Two or more races

14.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

20%

Not Hispanic or Latino

80%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.3%

Commute time to work

32 mins

Work from home

13.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.6%

High school graduate or GED

26.7%

Some college or associate degree

10.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

30.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Federal Way, WA with: Washington State United States

Federal Way, WA

Total population99,493

Rent$1,797

Year built1984

Household income$86,909

Per capita income$40,975

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate4.1%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityFederal Way, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	99,493	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$1,797	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1984	1985	1980
Household income	$86,909	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$40,975	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	13%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Federal Way, WA, Washington and United States →

Summary for Federal Way, WA

Federal Way is located in Washington.

Rent & Income

In Federal Way, the typical monthly rent is $1,797 and the typical household income is $86,909. Rent here is similar to Washington and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than Washington and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 13%, which is higher than the Washington rate and similar to the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 44.7% of households. About 59.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 30.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is lower than Washington and similar to the national rate.

Federal Way, WA — Rent vs Household Income

Federal Way, WA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Federal Way, WA compares in Washington State (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,797	15 / 25	from lower rent	$1,117 – $2,857
Household income	$86,909	14 / 25	from higher income	$62,815 – $239,690
Poverty rate	13%	19 / 25	from lower poverty	4.3% – 18.6%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	13 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 6.8%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Washington State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Federal Way, WA

Rent

In rent comparisons, Federal Way comes in 15th out of 25 large places. Across Washington, rents vary from $1,117 in Yakima, WA to $2,857 in Sammamish, WA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Federal Way comes in 14th among 25 major places. Across Washington, income levels vary from $62,815 in Yakima, WA to $239,690 in Sammamish, WA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Federal Way ranks 19th out of 25 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.3% in Sammamish, WA to 18.6% in Bellingham, WA.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Federal Way is ranked 13th out of 25 major areas. Across Washington, rates go from 2.8% in Redmond, WA up to 6.8% in Yakima, WA.

💰 Rent in Federal Way, WA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,797 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Federal Way, WA

Annual Household Income: $86,909

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Federal Way, WA

Estimated Rate: 13%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Federal Way, WA

In Federal Way, WA, households that rent: 15,960 (44.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	15,960	44.7%
Owner-Occupied	19,757	55.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Federal Way, WA

In Federal Way, WA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,486 (59.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,486	59.4%
Other renter households	6,474	40.6%
Total renter households	15,960	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Federal Way, WA

Less than High School: 21,687 people (31.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 18,331 people (26.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,498 people (10.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 21,122 people (30.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 68,638

📊 Unemployment Rate in Federal Way, WA

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

San Angelo, TX99,507 St. George, UT99,184 Kenosha, WI99,147 Buckeye, AZ99,844 Longmont, CO98,958 Albany, NY100,081 Hesperia, CA100,141 Boca Raton, FL98,833 New Braunfels, TX98,700 Roanoke, VA98,677

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.