Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $1389k less ($291,300 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $2046/mo less ($944 vs $2,990)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $117,625/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $117,625 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$1389k less
$291,300 vs $1,680,700
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$117,625
$174,506 vs $56,881/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
42% lower
244.5 vs 423.7 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 8 and Sunnyvale wins 15. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($56,881 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.