Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($87,400 vs $291,300)
Rent averages $93/mo less ($851 vs $944)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fayetteville
Cons
Median income trails Fayetteville by $19,610/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 5.3%)
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
73% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $19,610 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$204k less
$87,400 vs $291,300
Fayetteville
Median Income
$19,610
$56,881 vs $37,271/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
73% lower
423.7 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 11.9% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $944 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $56,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 6.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 9 and Fayetteville wins 14. 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 Cleveland to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($37,271 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Fayetteville, AR are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.