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D-

Is Federal Way, Washington Safe?

Population 99,729 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Federal Way has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 283 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 2,046 per 100K.

Federal Way Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricFederal WayWashington AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate393.5318.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2436.92054.41,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate316.0--268.2
Theft Rate2046.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate220.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD-

283 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

394/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2437/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Federal Way

Violent crime in Federal Way is close to the national average. The rate of 393.5 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2436.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,046 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 316 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Federal Way Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault316
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery55
087% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary260
096% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,046
01.5x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft220
069% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Federal Way Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Federal Way
393.5
State
318.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Federal Way
2436.9
State
2054.4
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Federal Way Safety

Is Federal Way safe?
Not especially. Federal Way earns a D- with a crime rate of 283 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Federal Way?
283 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 393.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2436.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Federal Way safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Federal Way's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,046 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Federal Way?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Federal Way generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Federal Way police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Federal Way?
Crime rates have held steady in Federal Way, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does Federal Way compare to other cities in Washington?
Below average for the state. Federal Way ranks behind about 91% of Washington cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Federal Way to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Federal Way?
Bad. A D- grade and 283 per-thousand rate put Federal Way below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 394 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Federal Way?
393.5 per 100,000, which is 8% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (316), robbery (55), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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