Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Federal Way, WA has a Safety Score of 4/100 — higher crime than 96% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,917.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,858 of 2,971 US cities and #80 of 87 in Washington.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Federal Way, Washington Safe?
Federal Way, a Puget Sound city, was once home to extensive timber operations. This diverse community, part of King County, is now a bustling suburban hub with a significant Asian population.
Federal Way has a safety score of 4/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,917.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Federal Way ranks #80 out of 87 cities in Washington and #2858 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 4th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 96% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Federal Way is motor vehicle theft, at 1,143.5 per 100K — 3.2x the national average.
Year over year, Federal Way's total crime rate decreased by 18.7%, with violent crime declining 15.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Federal Way Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 527 | 545.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 5.2 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 50 | 51.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 145 | 150.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 327 | 338.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 4,225 | 4,372.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 554 | 573.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,566 | 2,655.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,105 | 1,143.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Federal Way vs Washington Average
How does Federal Way's crime rate compare to the Washington state average?
| Metric | Federal Way | Washington Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 545.4 | 439.5 | +24.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,372.3 | 3,428.6 | +27.5% |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 4.7 | +9.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,917.7 | 3,868.1 | +27.1% |
Federal Way Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Federal Way, Washington.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 96,631 | 4,917.7 | 545.4 | 4,372.3 |
| 2023 | 96,340 | 6,052.5 | 642.5 | 5,410.0 |
| 2022 | 97,094 | 5,814.0 | 552.0 | 5,261.9 |
| 2021 | 97,017 | 5,446.5 | 543.2 | 4,903.3 |
| 2020 | 97,071 | 5,072.6 | 394.6 | 4,678.0 |
| 2019 | 98,025 | 4,585.6 | 337.7 | 4,247.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Federal Way, Washington safe?
Federal Way has a safety score of 4/100, meaning it has less crime than about 4% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,917.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Federal Way is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Federal Way, Washington?
According to FBI data for 2024, Federal Way has a violent crime rate of 545.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,372.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Federal Way compare to the national average?
Federal Way's total crime rate of 4,917.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 96,631 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Federal Way?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Federal Way include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Federal Way safe to visit?
Like any city, Federal Way has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 4/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.