Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
St. Petersburg
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $466/mo less ($944 vs $1,410)
32% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
12% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Commutes run 6 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 St. Petersburg by $13,452/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Households earn $13,452 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
32% lower
423.7 vs 619.6 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$13,452
$70,333 vs $56,881/yr
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 93.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and St. Petersburg wins 11. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $289,000 median home), income ($56,881 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and St. Petersburg, FL are about 885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.