Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $45,950 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($158,500 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $558/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,675)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $45,950/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Median Income
$45,950
$99,374 vs $53,424/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
80% lower
133.4 vs 660.2 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.9°F
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$265k less
$158,500 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ 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 | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 208,697 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 45.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 16 and Fayetteville wins 7. 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 Chandler to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $158,500 median home), income ($99,374 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Fayetteville, NC are about 1,875 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.