Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Fayetteville leads 11 of 20 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $683/mo less ($944 vs $1,627)
Homes cost $126k less ($291,300 vs $417,600)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $18,495/yr
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $18,495 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$126k less
$291,300 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$18,495
$75,376 vs $56,881/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 11 of 20 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Fort Lauderdale wins 9. 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 Fayetteville to Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $417,600 median home), income ($56,881 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,074 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.