Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($158,500 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,452)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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 Gresham by $16,013/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.8%)
Gresham, OR
Pros
38% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $16,013 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$253k less
$158,500 vs $411,700
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Median Income
$16,013
$69,437 vs $53,424/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
38% lower
410.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Gresham wins 10. 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $411,700 median home), income ($53,424 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Gresham, OR are about 2,369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.