Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $209/mo less ($944 vs $1,153)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pittsburgh
Cons
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $3,306/yr
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($171,800 vs $291,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Households earn $3,306 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$3,306
$60,187 vs $56,881/yr
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$120k less
$171,800 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $171,800 median home), income ($56,881 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Pittsburgh, PA are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.