Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $824/mo less ($944 vs $1,768)
Homes cost $147k less ($291,300 vs $438,100)
36% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $24,356/yr
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,356 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
36% lower
423.7 vs 660.6 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$147k less
$291,300 vs $438,100
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$24,356
$81,237 vs $56,881/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 29.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Santa Maria wins 10. 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $438,100 median home), income ($56,881 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.