Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 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
Population
95,022 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $432/mo less ($944 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Homes cost $23k less ($291,300 vs $314,400)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $30,877/yr
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $30,877 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$23k less
$291,300 vs $314,400
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Median Income
$30,877
$87,758 vs $56,881/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
12% lower
371.0 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Suffolk 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $314,400 median home), income ($56,881 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Suffolk, VA are about 975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.