Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Cary leads 17 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
6
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $68,436 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fayetteville
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($291,300 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $594/mo less ($944 vs $1,538)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $68,436/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$68,436
$125,317 vs $56,881/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
83% lower
71.0 vs 423.7 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$186k less
$291,300 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $56,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 95.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 6.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 17 of 23 categories. Cary wins 17 and Fayetteville wins 6. 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 Cary to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($125,317 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Fayetteville, AR are about 858 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.