Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Fishers
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($158,500 vs $339,000)
Rent averages $361/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,478)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fishers
Cons
Median income trails Fishers by $73,124/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 2.5%)
Fishers, IN
Pros
Households earn $73,124 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (2.5%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,000
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$181k less
$158,500 vs $339,000
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 84.4°F
Fishers
Median Income
$73,124
$126,548 vs $53,424/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
89% lower
72.9 vs 660.2 per 100k
Fishers
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
2.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $339,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 26.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Fishers 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $339,000 median home), income ($53,424 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Fishers, IN are about 510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.