Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 21 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
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($158,500 vs $351,400)
41% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,392)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $17,904/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 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $17,904 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
41% lower
660.2 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$193k less
$158,500 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$17,904
$71,328 vs $53,424/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 21 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Nashville-Davidson wins 8. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $351,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.