Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Fayetteville
North Carolina
8
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,715 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Fayetteville
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $912k less ($158,500 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1360/mo less ($1,117 vs $2,477)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $80,715/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 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$80,715
$134,139 vs $53,424/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
70% lower
199.1 vs 660.2 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$912k less
$158,500 vs $1,070,500
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 45.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Fayetteville wins 8. 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 Carlsbad to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $158,500 median home), income ($134,139 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Fayetteville, NC are about 2,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.