Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton 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
Population
95,022
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($291,300 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $920/mo less ($944 vs $1,864)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $35,411/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $35,411 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$286k less
$291,300 vs $576,800
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$35,411
$92,292 vs $56,881/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
20% lower
339.2 vs 423.7 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 105,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $576,800 median home), income ($56,881 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Renton, WA are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.