Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ 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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($66,700 vs $291,300)
Cons
Median income trails Fayetteville by $19,120/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 5.3%)
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 9.4 pts lower (5.3%)
76% less violent crime than Detroit
Households earn $19,120 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$225k less
$66,700 vs $291,300
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$19,120
$56,881 vs $37,761/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
76% lower
423.7 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
9.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 14.7% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $56,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 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 | 363⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 6.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit'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, Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories. Detroit 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 Detroit to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $291,300 median home), income ($37,761 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Fayetteville, AR are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.