Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 12 of 22 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
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $427/mo less ($944 vs $1,371)
13% less violent crime than Raleigh
Homes cost $56k less ($291,300 vs $347,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $21,750/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $21,750 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
13% lower
423.7 vs 488.8 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$56k less
$291,300 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$21,750
$78,631 vs $56,881/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $347,000 median home), income ($56,881 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Raleigh, NC are about 868 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.