Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881 ✓ Higher
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($192,000 vs $291,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fayetteville by $7,690/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
50% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $7,690 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$99k less
$192,000 vs $291,300
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$7,690
$56,881 vs $49,191/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
50% lower
423.7 vs 845.6 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $944 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $56,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 6.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 7 and Fayetteville wins 16. 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 Cincinnati to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $291,300 median home), income ($49,191 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Fayetteville, AR are about 569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.