Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Stockton, 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
Stockton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
63% less violent crime than Stockton
Rent averages $473/mo less ($944 vs $1,417)
Homes cost $91k less ($291,300 vs $382,000)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $14,731/yr
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,731 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
63% lower
423.7 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$91k less
$291,300 vs $382,000
Fayetteville
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$14,731
$71,612 vs $56,881/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Stockton 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $382,000 median home), income ($56,881 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Stockton, CA are about 1,498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.