Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $1409/mo less ($944 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $346k less ($291,300 vs $637,400)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $91,346/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $91,346 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fayetteville
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$346k less
$291,300 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$91,346
$148,227 vs $56,881/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
67% lower
138.1 vs 423.7 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 101,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Highlands Ranch 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 Fayetteville to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $637,400 median home), income ($56,881 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.