Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Fort Worth
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($158,500 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,313)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $19,302/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 5.3%)
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $19,302 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$92k less
$158,500 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$19,302
$72,726 vs $53,424/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
31% lower
458.4 vs 660.2 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 2.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 7 and Fort Worth wins 16. 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 Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $250,300 median home), income ($53,424 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,064 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.