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CITY

Federal Way

Washington · 99,729 residents (2025 est.) · 22.3 sq mi
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The short version

With 99,493 people, Federal Way is a city in Washington. 32% of residents were born outside the United States. There are 4,456 people per square mile. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $552,800. Owners hold 55% of the housing stock. Growth has run 19% since 2000, or 16,234 more people.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
99,493
+19%since 2000
from 83,259 in 2000
99,729 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,456 / sq mi
+18%since 2009
from 3,790 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
37.4
+15%since 2000
from 32.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
22.3 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
64K74K84K94K104K19902000201020202024Federal Way
202499K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.4%(6,399)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(5,857)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.5%(6,499)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.9%(5,884)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.2%(6,216)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416%(15,890)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.7%(13,667)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(11,125)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.1%(12,991)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.1%(9,034)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.3%(4,235)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(1,696)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,909
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,278 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,975
+83%since 2000
from $22,451 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.2%
+22.9 ptssince 2009
from 35.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.433
+8%since 2010
from 0.402 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance9.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$552,800
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $165,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,797
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $737 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 56.0% in 2000
44.7% rent
Vacancy rate
4.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.76 people
+7%since 2009
from 2.59 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
26.9%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 37.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
59.4%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.4
+27%since 2009
from 5.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
58
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic66.1%(55,050)
Black7.7%(6,439)
Hispanic / Latino7.5%(6,266)
Asian12.2%(10,156)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic34.9%(34,705)
Black17.8%(17,751)
Hispanic / Latino20%(19,934)
Asian15.3%(15,260)
Other11.9%(11,843)
Diversity Score
96
+23%since 2009
from 78 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican14.4%(14,376)
South American1.3%(1,289)
Honduran0.9%(936)
Salvadoran0.8%(782)
Guatemalan0.8%(759)
Puerto Rican0.7%(692)
Colombian0.5%(470)
Venezuelan0.4%(389)
Nicaraguan0.3%(316)
Panamanian0.2%(167)
Peruvian0.1%(144)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Spaniard0.1%(125)
Chilean0.1%(101)
Argentine0.1%(93)
Dominican0.1%(75)
Ecuadorian0.1%(70)
Cuban0%(34)
Bolivian0%(22)
Asian origin
Filipino4.1%(4,122)
Korean3.6%(3,548)
Vietnamese2.2%(2,221)
Chinese1.6%(1,594)
Asian Indian0.9%(861)
Kazakh0.7%(702)
Mongolian0.4%(416)
Laotian0.3%(261)
Cambodian0.2%(214)
Japanese0.2%(190)
Pakistani0.2%(171)
Taiwanese0.2%(151)
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data
Hmong0.1%(116)
Thai0.1%(105)
Indonesian0.1%(55)
Burmese0%(33)
Nepalese0%(33)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan1.7%(1,691)
Chamorro0.6%(555)
Tongan0.4%(387)
Fijian0.1%(102)
Guamanian0%(49)
Ancestry
German8.9%(8,884)
English6.6%(6,537)
Irish5.6%(5,599)
Norwegian3%(2,998)
American2.7%(2,735)
Italian2.6%(2,572)
Kenyan2.1%(2,133)
Swedish1.8%(1,746)
French1.7%(1,732)
Ukrainian1.6%(1,600)
Polish1.2%(1,227)
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data
Somali1.2%(1,222)
Scottish1.1%(1,075)
Ethiopian0.9%(863)
Turkish0.8%(815)
Arab0.6%(646)
Dutch0.6%(627)
Nigerian0.6%(590)
Russian0.6%(585)
British0.5%(517)
Iraqi0.5%(507)
Austrian0.4%(416)
Danish0.3%(341)
Finnish0.3%(311)
Romanian0.3%(292)
Canadian0.3%(284)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(279)
Welsh0.3%(274)
Croatian0.3%(272)
Swiss0.2%(234)
Portuguese0.2%(220)
Hungarian0.2%(218)
West Indian0.2%(214)
Armenian0.2%(172)
Ghanaian0.2%(164)
Czech0.2%(159)
Haitian0.1%(130)
Brazilian0.1%(121)
Greek0.1%(91)
Syrian0.1%(82)
Guyanese0.1%(82)
Lithuanian0.1%(74)
Slovak0.1%(55)
Iranian0.1%(50)
Israeli0.1%(50)
Serbian0%(47)
Barbadian0%(41)
Latvian0%(40)
Belgian0%(36)
Egyptian0%(30)
Slovene0%(9)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 26.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 89.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.1 min
+47%since 2000
from 21.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 70.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
4.5%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.7%
+9.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 68.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
75.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 74.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
10.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 32.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
48.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
31.9%
+9.6 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 11.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.2%
−7.5 ptssince 2013
from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.0%
+7.5 ptssince 2017
from 86.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 96.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
85.5%
+5.0 ptssince 2020
from 80.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
57.9%
−8.8 ptssince 2016
from 66.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
16.2%
+4.0 ptssince 2016
from 12.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married41.9%(17,116)
Married47%(19,202)
Widowed1.9%(776)
Divorced9.1%(3,718)
Women 15+
Never married34.3%(13,701)
Married46.2%(18,449)
Widowed7.5%(2,990)
Divorced12%(4,786)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
10.2%
−7.5 ptssince 2013
from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
51.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 53.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
9.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 9.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
15.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 14.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
27.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 27.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 1.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
59.5%
−2.8 ptssince 2020
from 62.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
40.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 39.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)27.7%(1,471)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.6%(988)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32.8%(1,741)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.6%(190)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(35)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 5,307 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Federal Way to nearby cities

FEDERAL WAY VS
Lakeland North
Income$105,216+21%
Home value$557,000+1%
Population15,950−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FEDERAL WAY VS
Lakeland South
Income$110,735+27%
Home value$589,300+7%
Population13,100−87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FEDERAL WAY VS
Milton
Income$96,540+11%
Home value$539,700−2%
Population8,911−91%
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FEDERAL WAY VS
Des Moines
Income$92,483+6%
Home value$597,000+8%
Population33,032−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Federal Way, Washington?

Federal Way, Washington has about 99,493 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Federal Way, Washington?

The typical household in Federal Way, Washington earns about $86,909 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Federal Way, Washington expensive?

In Federal Way, Washington, the median home is worth about $552,800, and the typical rent is about $1,797 a month.

How educated are people in Federal Way, Washington?

About 30.8% of adults age 25 and over in Federal Way, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Federal Way, Washington?

About 13.0% of people in Federal Way, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Federal Way, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Federal Way, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 31,939 residents, a change of about 47 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Federal Way, Washington: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy