Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Temecula
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $1278/mo less ($944 vs $2,222)
Homes cost $313k less ($291,300 vs $604,300)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Temecula
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $55,000/yr
Temecula, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,000 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$313k less
$291,300 vs $604,300
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Temecula
Median Income
$55,000
$111,881 vs $56,881/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
64% lower
151.5 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 110,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Temecula wins 13. 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $604,300 median home), income ($56,881 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Temecula, CA are about 1,312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.