Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Gilbert
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $296k less ($158,500 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $722/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $61,755/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 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $61,755 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fayetteville
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$296k less
$158,500 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$61,755
$115,179 vs $53,424/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
80% lower
132.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 18 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 5 and Gilbert wins 18. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $454,300 median home), income ($53,424 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Gilbert, AZ are about 1,868 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.