Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie 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
Grand Prairie
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($158,500 vs $242,900)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,381)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Prairie
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Grand Prairie by $23,202/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 5.0%)
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $23,202 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,381/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 28.1 min average each way
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
$84k less
$158,500 vs $242,900
Grand Prairie
Median Income
$23,202
$76,626 vs $53,424/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
66% lower
221.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Grand Prairie, 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 | $242,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,381⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $76,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 76 ✓ 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 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 81.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 197,279 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 59.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Grand Prairie 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 Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $242,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Grand Prairie, TX are about 1,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.