Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Spokane
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
37% less violent crime than Spokane
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $116/mo less ($944 vs $1,060)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Spokane by $6,435/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
Households earn $6,435 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
37% lower
423.7 vs 674.9 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Median Income
$6,435
$63,316 vs $56,881/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 15 and Spokane wins 8. 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 or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $286,900 median home), income ($56,881 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Spokane, WA are about 1,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.