Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $38,689 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $1226/mo less ($944 vs $2,170)
Homes cost $306k less ($291,300 vs $597,100)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $38,689/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$38,689
$95,570 vs $56,881/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
60% lower
171.0 vs 423.7 per 100k
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$306k less
$291,300 vs $597,100
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $56,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 95.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Fayetteville wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Boca Raton to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $291,300 median home), income ($95,570 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Fayetteville, AR are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.