Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Miami 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
Miami
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($158,500 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,494)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
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 5.0%)
Miami, FL
Pros
28% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 54°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$275k less
$158,500 vs $433,900
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 87.8°F
Miami
Median Income
$1,434
$54,858 vs $53,424/yr
Miami
Violent Crime
28% lower
473.3 vs 660.2 per 100k
Miami
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $54,858 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 443,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Miami leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Miami 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 Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $433,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Miami, FL are about 647 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.