Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Lansing
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
69% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,134 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($112,200 vs $291,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fayetteville by $6,134/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$6,134
$56,881 vs $50,747/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
69% lower
423.7 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.3% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Median Home Value
$179k less
$112,200 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $954 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 112,986 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 16 and Lansing wins 7. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $112,200 median home), income ($56,881 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Lansing, MI are about 687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.