Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Lancaster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $632/mo less ($944 vs $1,576)
49% less violent crime than Lancaster
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Homes cost $78k less ($291,300 vs $368,800)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $14,486/yr
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,486 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Fayetteville
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
49% lower
423.7 vs 834.7 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$78k less
$291,300 vs $368,800
Fayetteville
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$14,486
$71,367 vs $56,881/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Lancaster wins 11. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $368,800 median home), income ($56,881 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Lancaster, CA are about 1,352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.