Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
62% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $448/mo less ($944 vs $1,392)
Homes cost $60k less ($291,300 vs $351,400)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $14,447/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $14,447 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
62% lower
423.7 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$60k less
$291,300 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$14,447
$71,328 vs $56,881/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 45.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fayetteville wins 11 and Nashville-Davidson 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $351,400 median home), income ($56,881 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.