Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories
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
Hartford
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $15,040 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Hartford
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $210/mo less ($944 vs $1,154)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($198,900 vs $291,300)
Cons
Median income trails Fayetteville by $15,040/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$15,040
$56,881 vs $41,841/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
18% lower
423.7 vs 515.8 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.6% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 84.6°F
Hartford
Median Home Value
$92k less
$198,900 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,154 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 121,057 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 16 and Hartford 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 Fayetteville to Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $198,900 median home), income ($56,881 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Hartford, CT are about 1,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.