Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($158,500 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $682/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $37,727/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 5.8%)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $37,727 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$342k less
$158,500 vs $500,100
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$37,727
$91,151 vs $53,424/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
15% lower
561.6 vs 660.2 per 100k
Jersey City
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Jersey City wins 11. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $500,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Jersey City, NJ are about 472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.