Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina 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
West Covina
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($291,300 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $1110/mo less ($944 vs $2,054)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $39,338/yr
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,338 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$373k less
$291,300 vs $664,500
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$39,338
$96,219 vs $56,881/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
44% lower
239.3 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 108,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $664,500 median home), income ($56,881 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and West Covina, CA are about 1,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.