Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county 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
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($158,500 vs $247,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $12,663/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
60% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $12,663 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$89k less
$158,500 vs $247,900
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$12,663
$66,087 vs $53,424/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
60% lower
262.0 vs 660.2 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 20.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ 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 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $247,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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