Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville 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
Vacaville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $1197/mo less ($944 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $269k less ($291,300 vs $560,400)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $49,883/yr
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,883 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$269k less
$291,300 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$49,883
$106,764 vs $56,881/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
31% lower
293.2 vs 423.7 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $560,400 median home), income ($56,881 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Vacaville, CA are about 1,532 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.