Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($158,500 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $594/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $43,883/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 5.5%)
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $43,883 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$238k less
$158,500 vs $396,100
Goodyear
Median Income
$43,883
$97,307 vs $53,424/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
72% lower
182.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $396,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Goodyear wins 14. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $396,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Goodyear, AZ are about 1,904 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.