Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $593k less ($291,300 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $905/mo less ($944 vs $1,849)
78% less violent crime than Oakland
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $37,508/yr
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,508 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fayetteville
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
78% lower
423.7 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$593k less
$291,300 vs $883,800
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$37,508
$94,389 vs $56,881/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Oakland wins 10. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $883,800 median home), income ($56,881 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Oakland, CA are about 1,549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.