Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Glendale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($158,500 vs $310,000)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $151/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,268)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $12,951/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.7%)
Glendale, AZ
Pros
26% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $12,951 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$152k less
$158,500 vs $310,000
Glendale
Median Income
$12,951
$66,375 vs $53,424/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
26% lower
488.4 vs 660.2 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $310,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,268 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 8 and Glendale wins 15. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $310,000 median home), income ($53,424 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Glendale, AZ are about 1,890 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.