Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Grand Rapids
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
27% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Homes cost $45k less ($158,500 vs $203,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Rapids
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Grand Rapids by $8,210/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.6%)
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $8,210 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
27% lower
660.2 vs 910.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$45k less
$158,500 vs $203,900
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$8,210
$61,634 vs $53,424/yr
Grand Rapids
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $203,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,138 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $61,634 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 39.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 198,096 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Grand Rapids wins 11. 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 Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $203,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Grand Rapids, MI are about 651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.