Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $40,764 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($158,500 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $480/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Buckeye
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $40,764/yr
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
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$40,764
$94,188 vs $53,424/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
75% lower
166.8 vs 660.2 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 90.9°F
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$183k less
$158,500 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 54.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 45.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories. Buckeye 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 Buckeye to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $158,500 median home), income ($94,188 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Fayetteville, NC are about 1,917 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.