Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 22 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
Memphis
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
74% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $5,334 more per year on average
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
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $19k less ($139,600 vs $158,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fayetteville by $5,334/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$5,334
$53,424 vs $48,090/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
74% lower
660.2 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Memphis
Median Home Value
$19k less
$139,600 vs $158,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Memphis wins 9. 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $139,600 median home), income ($53,424 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Memphis, TN are about 621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.