Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($158,500 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $572/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,689)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $36,296/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 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,296 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$330k less
$158,500 vs $488,100
Longmont
Median Income
$36,296
$89,720 vs $53,424/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
29% lower
469.3 vs 660.2 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Longmont 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 Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $488,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Longmont, CO are about 1,466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.