Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton 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
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($158,500 vs $219,800)
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,255)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hampton by $11,006/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.5%)
Hampton, VA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.5%)
Households earn $11,006 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$61k less
$158,500 vs $219,800
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 87.3°F
Hampton
Median Income
$11,006
$64,430 vs $53,424/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
62% lower
247.6 vs 660.2 per 100k
Hampton
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 7.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 47.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 137,217 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Hampton 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $219,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Hampton, VA are about 202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.