Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
26% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Rent averages $76/mo less ($944 vs $1,020)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($150,800 vs $291,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
26% lower
423.7 vs 571.2 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Median Income
$534
$57,415 vs $56,881/yr
Independence
Median Home Value
$141k less
$150,800 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $57,415 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 15 and Independence wins 8. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $150,800 median home), income ($56,881 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Independence, MO are about 208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.