Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Richardson
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $781/mo less ($944 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $89k less ($291,300 vs $379,800)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $37,481/yr
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $37,481 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$89k less
$291,300 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$37,481
$94,362 vs $56,881/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
65% lower
146.7 vs 423.7 per 100k
Richardson
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 5 and Richardson wins 18. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $379,800 median home), income ($56,881 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Richardson, TX are about 258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.