Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Fayetteville
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
38% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $6,515 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Fayetteville
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($158,500 vs $358,400)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,390)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 40°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
Median income trails Elizabeth by $6,515/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$6,515
$59,939 vs $53,424/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
38% lower
408.7 vs 660.2 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$200k less
$158,500 vs $358,400
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 5.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 45.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $158,500 median home), income ($59,939 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Fayetteville, NC are about 465 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.