Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
Fayetteville
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
40% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($158,500 vs $227,200)
Rent averages $252/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,369)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (8.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$1,016
$54,440 vs $53,424/yr
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
40% lower
392.9 vs 660.2 per 100k
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$69k less
$158,500 vs $227,200
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
8.4% vs 9.5% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 45.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 9 and Fayetteville wins 14. 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 Bridgeport to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $158,500 median home), income ($54,440 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Fayetteville, NC are about 526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.