Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 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
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($291,300 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($944 vs $1,698)
37% less violent crime than Long Beach
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $22,114/yr
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,114 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
37% lower
423.7 vs 676.4 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$418k less
$291,300 vs $709,700
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$22,114
$78,995 vs $56,881/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Long Beach, 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 | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 14 and Long Beach 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $709,700 median home), income ($56,881 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Long Beach, CA are about 1,365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.