Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
47% less violent crime than Phoenix
Rent averages $378/mo less ($944 vs $1,322)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $49k less ($291,300 vs $340,200)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $15,211/yr
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $15,211 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
47% lower
423.7 vs 799.6 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$49k less
$291,300 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Median Income
$15,211
$72,092 vs $56,881/yr
Phoenix
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Phoenix wins 13. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $340,200 median home), income ($56,881 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.