Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 North Charleston 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 ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
48% less violent crime than North Charleston
Rent averages $344/mo less ($944 vs $1,288)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $48k less ($243,300 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
48% lower
423.7 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Median Income
$1,653
$58,534 vs $56,881/yr
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$48k less
$243,300 vs $291,300
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $58,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 115,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and North Charleston 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $243,300 median home), income ($56,881 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and North Charleston, SC are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.