Population 98,560 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Federal Way
Household size in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.72 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.85 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.26 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Federal Way average 2.85 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.59, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.6 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.5 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Federal Way is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.6, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Federal Way (11.9%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the wider Seattle area (9.1%). The single-parent share is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Federal Way
Renters in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.7% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.5% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.3% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Federal Way than nationally: 44.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 34.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the north. The renter share has risen 3.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Federal Way: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Seattle area.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Federal Way are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,063 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,178 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,482 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,910 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$848 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Federal Way runs $1,910 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the Seattle area as a whole ($2,193). Rents are up $848 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Federal Way
Bachelor's degrees in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.3% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.6% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Federal Way than nationally: 29.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.4% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.6% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.9% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Federal Way is close to the national rate: 88.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Seattle area overall (93.1%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.6 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Federal Way
| Period | Federal Way | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Federal Way is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Federal Way compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Way | 2.85 | 38.4 | 11.9% | 44.3% | 6.9% | 1984 | $1,910 | 29.6% | 88.9% | 5.6% |
| Lakeland North | 3.15 | 39.7 | 13.4% | 32.8% | 4.1% | 1984 | $2,333 | 26.2% | 85.7% | 4.8% |
| Lakeland South | 3.17 | 38.1 | 6.5% | 19.2% | 6.8% | 1989 | $1,585 | 29.5% | 90.2% | 6.6% |
| Milton | 2.77 | 39.5 | 16.5% | 38.9% | 4.9% | 1983 | $2,108 | 23.1% | 92.2% | 5.5% |
| Algona | 3.43 | 36.3 | 18.0% | 19.9% | 4.6% | 1991 | $1,983 | 15.6% | 74.8% | 9.1% |
| Pacific | 3.13 | 40.4 | 16.3% | 40.6% | 7.9% | 1986 | $1,598 | 21.2% | 83.0% | 5.1% |
| Des Moines | 2.88 | 37.8 | 14.0% | 39.9% | 5.5% | 1974 | $1,903 | 29.6% | 87.4% | 7.0% |
| Fife | 2.86 | 31.6 | 11.7% | 50.9% | 6.5% | 1998 | $2,226 | 29.7% | 91.4% | 4.1% |
| Edgewood | 2.67 | 39.4 | 17.7% | 37.2% | 5.2% | 1995 | $2,030 | 33.4% | 95.6% | 2.6% |
| Auburn | 2.91 | 37.0 | 12.9% | 37.3% | 5.8% | 1989 | $1,949 | 26.0% | 87.9% | 6.6% |
| Kent | 2.92 | 35.8 | 12.2% | 48.2% | 6.9% | 1987 | $2,074 | 28.7% | 84.7% | 6.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Boston, MA · Boulder, CO · Brick, NJ · Bremerton, WA · Birmingham, AL · Bloomington, IN · Bloomington, IL · Boynton Beach, FL · Billings, MT · Berkeley, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Federal Way. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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