Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Edinburg leads 16 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Fayetteville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Rent averages $197/mo less ($920 vs $1,117)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 54°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fayetteville
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.2%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Income
$715
$54,139 vs $53,424/yr
Edinburg
Violent Crime
59% lower
269.6 vs 660.2 per 100k
Edinburg
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Edinburg
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,117 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 54.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 30.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 45.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 16 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 16 and Fayetteville wins 7. 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 Edinburg to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $158,500 median home), income ($54,139 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Fayetteville, NC are about 1,288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.