Federal Way city, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Federal Way city is a mid-sized community located in Washington. The total population is 99,232. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 631 cities and towns in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Federal Way city is 37.6 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Federal Way city is $82,144. This is 13% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 5% higher. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $499,600. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 55.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Federal Way city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (17.3% vs 3.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (14.4% vs 9.3%).

Education

31.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Federal Way city, Washington is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Washington state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 631 Census-designated places in Washington. For official data, visit data.census.gov.