Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Fayetteville leads 18 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
59% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,437 more per year on average
Rent averages $233/mo less ($944 vs $1,177)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($111,200 vs $291,300)
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fayetteville by $12,437/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$12,437
$56,881 vs $44,444/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
59% lower
423.7 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$180k less
$111,200 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 18 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 18 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $111,200 median home), income ($56,881 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Trenton, NJ are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.