Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine 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
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $867k less ($158,500 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1632/mo less ($1,117 vs $2,749)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $69,524/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 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,524 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Fayetteville
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$867k less
$158,500 vs $1,025,700
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$69,524
$122,948 vs $53,424/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
87% lower
84.0 vs 660.2 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($53,424 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Irvine, CA are about 2,201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.