Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($230,500 vs $291,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
49% less violent crime than Chattanooga
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $122/mo less ($944 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$822
$57,703 vs $56,881/yr
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$61k less
$230,500 vs $291,300
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
49% lower
423.7 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $56,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 6.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga wins 11 and Fayetteville wins 11. 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 Chattanooga to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $291,300 median home), income ($57,703 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Fayetteville, AR are about 506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.