Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($158,500 vs $328,700)
43% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 22°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,267)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $22,908/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 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $22,908 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fayetteville
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
43% lower
660.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$170k less
$158,500 vs $328,700
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$22,908
$76,332 vs $53,424/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Minneapolis wins 10. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $328,700 median home), income ($53,424 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,016 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.