Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Spokane Valley
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $231/mo less ($944 vs $1,175)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $9,602/yr
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,602 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$16k less
$291,300 vs $307,700
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$9,602
$66,483 vs $56,881/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
43% lower
242.1 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 103,761 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 14 and Spokane Valley wins 9. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $307,700 median home), income ($56,881 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.