Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Hesperia leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Hesperia
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $492/mo less ($944 vs $1,436)
Commutes run 24 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% less violent crime than Hesperia
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hesperia
Cons
Median income trails Hesperia by $10,817/yr
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,817 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,436/mo
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fayetteville
Pricier housing — median home is $337,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
18% lower
423.7 vs 519.6 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$46k less
$291,300 vs $337,600
Fayetteville
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Median Income
$10,817
$67,698 vs $56,881/yr
Hesperia
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $337,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,436⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $67,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 99,878 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 32.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 9.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hesperia leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Hesperia 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 Fayetteville to Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $337,600 median home), income ($56,881 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Hesperia, CA are about 1,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.