Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($158,500 vs $312,300)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (8.4%)
Households earn $6,964 more per year on average
Rent averages $156/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,273)
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
Newark, NJ
Pros
12% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Fayetteville
Median income trails Fayetteville by $6,964/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$6,964
$53,424 vs $46,460/yr
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$154k less
$158,500 vs $312,300
Fayetteville
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
8.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Violent Crime
12% lower
581.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 16 and Newark wins 7. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $312,300 median home), income ($53,424 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Newark, NJ are about 469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.