Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vista leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Vista
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $332k less ($291,300 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $1058/mo less ($944 vs $2,002)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $31,834/yr
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,834 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$332k less
$291,300 vs $622,900
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$31,834
$88,715 vs $56,881/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
25% lower
316.4 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 98,392 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vista leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Vista wins 12. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $622,900 median home), income ($56,881 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Vista, CA are about 1,324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.