Federal Way

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Federal Way, WA

Area Guide

From this great city, it truly is all within reach

Parks Outdoor Adventure Beach Mountains Commutes Family-Friendly

Living in Federal Way places residents between Seattle and Tacoma in the scenic Puget Sound region. The city features several notable parks and outdoor spaces, including Dash Point State Park with its saltwater beach and forest trails, and the West Hylebos Wetlands Park, home to boardwalk paths through protected peat bogs. Steel Lake Park offers swimming and fishing opportunities, while Celebration Park provides sports facilities and hosts community events. The rental market shows one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,589, with rates decreasing 0.6% over the past year. Housing options range from apartments near Steel Lake to residences close to the city center.

Federal Way's downtown continues to develop around the Performing Arts & Event Center (PAEC) and The Commons at Federal Way mall. The city features distinctive attractions like the Pacific Bonsai Museum and the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, both located on the former Weyerhaeuser campus grounds. Town Square Park hosts community gatherings throughout the year, and Wild Waves Theme & Water Park draws visitors as the Pacific Northwest's largest water park. The city's sister city relationships with Donghae, South Korea, and Hachinohe, Japan, reflect its international connections. Current rental options include studio apartments averaging $1,272 and three-bedroom units at $2,287, spread throughout Federal Way's neighborhoods.

Rent Trends

As of December 2025, the average apartment rent in Federal Way, WA is $1,232 for a studio, $1,540 for one bedroom, $1,865 for two bedrooms, and $2,299 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Federal Way has decreased by -0.8% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,540/month
675 Sq Ft
House
$2,862/month
1,516 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Federal Way, WA

Transportation

56

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

37

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

45

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Twin Lakes Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

394 Students

Nautilus Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

440 Students

Green Gables Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

339 Students

Wildwood Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

564 Students

Brigadoon Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

353 Students

Nautilus Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

440 Students

Sacajawea Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

684 Students

Illahee Middle School

Public

Grades 5-8

671 Students

Lakota Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

632 Students

Saghalie Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

474 Students

Federal Way Senior High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,640 Students

Decatur High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,327 Students

Todd Beamer High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,302 Students

Technology Access Foundation Academy

Public

Grades 6-12

310 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
  • Dash Point State Park
  • Saltwater State Park
  • Browns Point Lighthouse Park
  • Foss Waterway Seaport

Airports

  • Seattle-Tacoma International

Top Apartments in Federal Way

Houses for Rent in Federal Way

Property Management Companies in Federal Way, WA

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.