City · Washington
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way, city, in King County, Washington. Federal Way had 99,729 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 101,030 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 99,493 (±51). GEOID 5323515.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
99,729
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 101,030 · ACS 2020-2024: 99,493 ±51
Median household income
$86,909
±$3,723 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$552,800
±$13,668 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,797
±$41 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Federal Way and what county is it in?
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington. It covers 22.3 square miles of land, 4,527 residents per square mile in 2020.
Federal Way is in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Federal Way, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 99,729 people lived in Federal Way on July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, while Washington grew 3.8%. The 2020 Census counted 101,030 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 99,493 (±51).
| Measure | Federal Way | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 99,493 ±51 | 2,287,171 | +2,967 |
| Households | 35,717 ±804 | 941,054 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.76 ±0.06 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 37,479 ±868 | 1,003,284 | no clear change |
Federal Way's population since 2000
From 83,259 in 2000 to 99,729 in 2025: up 19.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Federal Way as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Federal Way?
The median resident of Federal Way is 37.4 years old; 22.8% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 34.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 20.0%. 31.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Federal Way | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 ±1.0 | 37.4 | +1.6 |
| Under 18 years | 22.8% ±1.1 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0% ±0.9 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Male | 51.2% ±1.3 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.0% ±2.1 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 34.9% ±2.0 pts | 52.9% | −9.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 17.8% ±2.0 pts | 6.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 15.3% ±1.3 pts | 20.5% | +2.7 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±0.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.2% ±1.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 31.9% ±1.9 pts | 25.8% | +7.2 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 42.1% ±2.3 pts | 31.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.9% ±0.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 13.3% ±1.0 pts | 10.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.2% ±1.3 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.0% ±1.4 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 30.8% ±2.0 pts | 56.7% | +3.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.6% ±1.1 pts | 24.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.5% ±1.6 pts | 83.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4% ±0.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Federal Way earn?
Half of Federal Way's 35,717 households earn less than $86,909 a year (±$3,723), against $124,746 in King County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $82,884 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Federal Way | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $86,909 ±$3,723 | $124,746 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $110,559 ±$3,967 | $176,799 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,975 ±$1,427 | $74,100 | +$1,908 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.0% ±1.6 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.4% ±3.8 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.6% ±1.7 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.1% ±0.9 pts | 98.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.0% ±1.3 pts | 95.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Federal Way?
Owners occupy 55.3% of Federal Way's occupied homes and renters 44.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $552,800 by its owner (±$13,668). The median renter pays $1,797 a month including utilities, and 47.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Federal Way | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $552,800 ±$13,668 | $859,900 | +$148,148 |
| Median gross rent | $1,797 ±$41 | $2,092 | +$155 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.7% ±4.1 pts | 37.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,351 ±$92 | $3,273 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.3% ±2.1 pts | 55.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 44.7% ±2.1 pts | 44.6% | – |
| Housing units | 37,479 ±868 | 1,003,284 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.4% ±1.7 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 49.2% ±1.9 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% ±0.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.5% ±1.4 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.4% ±0.6 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.3% ±1.0 pts | 11.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Federal Way building?
Builders took permits for 136 new housing units in Federal Way in 2025 (136 in single-family houses), 1.4 per 1,000 residents against 4.4 across Washington.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Federal Way work and get to work?
66.5% of Federal Way's workers drive alone and 13.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.
| Measure | Federal Way | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.9% ±1.4 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% ±0.9 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 66.5% ±2.6 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.1% ±1.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 4.5% ±1.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Walked | 2.1% ±0.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.7% ±1.9 pts | 29.2% | +9.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.1 min ±0.9 | 27.6 min | −3.2 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Federal Way?
20 census tracts lie mostly in Federal Way, and 7 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $51,010 (Tract 300.07) to $127,500 (Tract 303.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 303.10King County | 6,723 | $107,500 |
| Tract 300.05King County | 6,369 | $100,000 |
| Tract 303.09King County | 5,867 | $81,733 |
| Tract 302.01King County | 5,838 | $90,814 |
| Tract 303.08King County | 5,619 | $82,074 |
| Tract 303.11King County | 5,544 | $109,909 |
| Tract 303.06King County | 5,324 | $127,500 |
| Tract 303.05King County | 5,316 | $126,017 |
| Tract 303.12King County | 5,164 | $87,972 |
| Tract 303.13King County | 5,029 | $61,364 |
| Tract 300.06King County | 4,830 | $55,777 |
| Tract 302.03King County | 4,584 | $61,378 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Federal Way) · Census block assignment files
How does Federal Way compare with other places in Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Federal Way is the 344th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 10th-most populous of 281 in Washington.
Federal Way ranks 226th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 10th | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 180th | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 28th | 394 |
| Median household income | 226th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 243rd | 393 |
| Median home value | 161st | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 138th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 93rd | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 179th | 382 |
| Median age | 250th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 339th | 388 |
| Work from home | 189th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 91st | 394 |
Federal Way's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Federal Way with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Federal Way?
1 of the 57 figures for Federal Way on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Federal Way are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Federal Way.