Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Indianapolis
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
52% less violent crime than Indianapolis
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $102/mo less ($944 vs $1,046)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($184,600 vs $291,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
52% lower
423.7 vs 877.9 per 100k
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 83.7°F
Indianapolis
Median Income
$2,229
$59,110 vs $56,881/yr
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$107k less
$184,600 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,046 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $59,110 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 33.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 41.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 14 and Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $184,600 median home), income ($56,881 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Indianapolis, IN are about 506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.