Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch 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
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($158,500 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1236/mo less ($1,117 vs $2,353)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $94,803/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 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $94,803 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fayetteville
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$479k less
$158,500 vs $637,400
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$94,803
$148,227 vs $53,424/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
79% lower
138.1 vs 660.2 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $637,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.