Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
12
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $17,829 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fayetteville
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
32% less violent crime than Durham
Rent averages $352/mo less ($944 vs $1,296)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Homes cost $25k less ($291,300 vs $316,600)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $17,829/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$17,829
$74,710 vs $56,881/yr
Durham
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
32% lower
423.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$25k less
$291,300 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $56,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 6.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 11 and Fayetteville wins 12. 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 Durham to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $291,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Fayetteville, AR are about 852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.