Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($158,500 vs $234,900)
38% less violent crime than Lafayette
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
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 6.1%)
Median income trails Lafayette by $5,426/yr
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,426 more per year on average
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,117)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 54°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
38% lower
660.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$76k less
$158,500 vs $234,900
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$5,426
$58,850 vs $53,424/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Lafayette wins 13. 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $234,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Lafayette, LA are about 830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.