Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Greensboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
Greensboro
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
29% less violent crime than Greensboro
Homes cost $39k less ($158,500 vs $197,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
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%)
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
29% lower
660.2 vs 923.7 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$39k less
$158,500 vs $197,200
Greensboro
Median Income
$1,627
$55,051 vs $53,424/yr
Greensboro
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,048 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $55,051 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 7.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 297,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Greensboro wins 12. 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 Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $197,200 median home), income ($53,424 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Greensboro, NC are about 85 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.