Population

Federal Way

99,232

Sparks

109,106

Median Income

Federal Way

$82,144

Sparks

$86,979

Home Value

Federal Way

$499,600

Sparks

$455,900

Rent

Federal Way

$1,738

Sparks

$1,651

Crime Rate

Federal Way

5.45

Sparks

3.95

Cost of Living

Federal Way

154.3

Sparks

144.8

Avg Temp

Federal Way

N/A

Sparks

N/A

Unemployment

Federal Way

5.9%

Sparks

5.7%

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How Similar Are Federal Way & Sparks?

Sparks is Federal Way's #14 most similar city

5/10

5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Federal Way

99,232

vs

Sparks

109,106

Match · 9% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Federal Way at 99,232 and Sparks at 109,106.

Violent Crime

Federal Way

5.45

vs

Sparks

3.95

Different · 28% difference
🚨

Federal Way has a 28% higher violent crime than Sparks.

Property Crime

🔒

Federal Way

43.72

vs

Sparks

25.84

Different · 41% difference

Federal Way has a 41% higher property crime than Sparks.

Political Leaning

Federal Way

22.5%

vs

Sparks

48.3%

Different · 54% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Sparks has a stronger Democratic lean (54% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Federal Way

5.9%

vs

Sparks

5.7%

Match · 3% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 3% difference.

Median Income

Federal Way

$82,144

vs

Sparks

$86,979

Match · 6% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 6% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Federal Way

$499,600

vs

Sparks

$455,900

Match · 9% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 9% difference.

Education

Federal Way

21.3%

vs

Sparks

17.9%

Different · 16% difference
🎓

Federal Way has a 16% higher education than Sparks.

Demographics

🌍

Federal Way

38.8%

vs

Sparks

62.0%

Different · 37% difference

Sparks has a 37% higher demographics than Federal Way.

Cost of Living

Federal Way

154.3

vs

Sparks

144.8

Match · 6% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 6% difference.

5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Federal Way and Sparks share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Federal Way

vsof 8

0

Sparks

Sparks leads in 6 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Sparks leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Sparks has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,489 vs $2,146 in Federal Way (44% lower). Sparks has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,870 vs $2,501 in Federal Way (34% lower). Sparks scores 109.7 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 127.0 in Federal Way.

Overall Cost Index

Federal Way154.3
Sparks144.8

Housing Index

Federal Way215.4
Sparks190.8

Food Index

Federal Way112.8
Sparks116.5

Transportation Index

Federal Way127.0
Sparks109.7

Healthcare Index

Federal Way110.2
Sparks113.2

Utilities Index

Federal Way130.8
Sparks128.1

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Federal Way$67,891
Sparks$63,701

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Federal Way$160,470
Sparks$150,566

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Federal Way$2,146
Sparks$1,489

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Federal Way$2,501
Sparks$1,870

Housing Market — Sparks leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Sparks has a median property tax of $2,193 vs $4,408 in Federal Way (101% lower). Federal Way has a vacancy rate of 4.8% compared to 7.1% in Sparks. Sparks has a single-family homes of 67.8% compared to 52.1% in Federal Way.

Median Home Value

Federal Way$499,600
Sparks$455,900

Median Rent

Federal Way$1,738
Sparks$1,651

Median Property Tax

Federal Way$4,408
Sparks$2,193

Owner-Occupied

Federal Way55.7%
Sparks59.9%

Vacancy Rate

Federal Way4.8%
Sparks7.1%

Single-Family Homes

Federal Way52.1%
Sparks67.8%

Jobs & Economy — Sparks leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Sparks has a poverty rate of 9.0% compared to 12.7% in Federal Way. Sparks: 21 min vs Federal Way: 28 min for mean commute. Federal Way has a work from home of 12.5% compared to 9.5% in Sparks.

Median Household Income

Federal Way$82,144
Sparks$86,979

Per Capita Income

Federal Way$39,547
Sparks$40,192

Poverty Rate

Federal Way12.7%
Sparks9.0%

Unemployment Rate

Federal Way5.9%
Sparks5.7%

Labor Force

Federal Way51,743
Sparks59,405

Mean Commute

Federal Way28 min
Sparks21 min

Work from Home

Federal Way12.5%
Sparks9.5%

Private Sector

Federal Way97.2%
SparksN/A

Government Sector

Federal Way45.5%
Sparks47.6%

Crime & Safety — Sparks leads

Source: FBI UCR

Sparks has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.56 compared to 1.50 in Federal Way. Sparks has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 3.01 compared to 5.73 in Federal Way. Sparks has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 25.84 compared to 43.72 in Federal Way.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Federal Way5.45
Sparks3.95

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Federal Way43.72
Sparks25.84

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Federal Way0.05
Sparks0.05

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Federal Way1.50
Sparks0.56

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Federal Way3.38
Sparks2.50

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Federal Way5.73
Sparks3.01

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Federal Way26.55
Sparks19.65

Violent Crime Clearance

Federal Way38.3%
Sparks39.3%

Property Crime Clearance

Federal Way9.2%
Sparks25.3%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Avg Annual High

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Avg Annual Low

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Sunny Days per Year

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Annual Rainfall

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Annual Snowfall

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Avg Humidity

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Schools & Education — Federal Way leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Federal Way has a bachelor's degree or higher of 21.3% compared to 17.9% in Sparks. Federal Way has a high school diploma or higher of 39.6% compared to 35.3% in Sparks.

Public Schools

Federal Way0
Sparks0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

Federal WayN/A
SparksN/A

Colleges & Universities

Federal Way0
Sparks0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Federal Way21.3%
Sparks17.9%

High School Diploma or Higher

Federal Way39.6%
Sparks35.3%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Sparks has a population of 109,106, about 1.1x the size of Federal Way (99,232).

Population

Federal Way99,232
Sparks109,106

Median Age

Federal Way38
Sparks37

Avg Household Size

Federal Way2.7
Sparks2.6

Married Population

Federal Way39.7%
Sparks38.8%

Foreign Born

Federal Way29.1%
Sparks14.7%

White

Federal Way38.8%
Sparks62.0%

Black

Federal Way17.8%
Sparks2.2%

Hispanic

Federal Way19.0%
Sparks32.6%

Asian

Federal Way14.5%
Sparks5.3%

Federal Way

Sparks

Healthcare — Sparks leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Sparks: 3.8 vs Federal Way: 2.8 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Federal Way5
Sparks5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Federal Way2.8
Sparks3.8

With Emergency Services

Federal Way4
Sparks4

Transportation & Commute — Sparks leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Federal Way has a public transit of 5.2% compared to 2.0% in Sparks. Sparks has a bicycle of 0.1% compared to 0.1% in Federal Way. Sparks: 21 min vs Federal Way: 28 min for mean commute time.

Mean Commute Time

Federal Way28 min
Sparks21 min

Drive Alone

Federal Way68.0%
Sparks73.0%

Public Transit

Federal Way5.2%
Sparks2.0%

Bicycle

Federal Way0.1%
Sparks0.1%

Work from Home

Federal Way12.5%
Sparks9.5%

Airports

Federal Way0
Sparks0

Cities Similar to Federal Way, WA

Compare Federal Way against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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