Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Manchester
New Hampshire
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $418/mo less ($944 vs $1,362)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $17,159/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
21% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $17,159 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fayetteville
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$13k less
$291,300 vs $304,700
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$17,159
$74,040 vs $56,881/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
21% lower
336.0 vs 423.7 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Manchester wins 12. 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 Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $304,700 median home), income ($56,881 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Manchester, NH are about 1,297 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.