Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Oceanside, CA
🏆 Oceanside 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 ✓ Larger
Oceanside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $486k less ($158,500 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $961/mo less ($1,117 vs $2,078)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oceanside by $33,277/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 5.9%)
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,277 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Violent crime (458.7/100k) 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 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$486k less
$158,500 vs $644,600
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 76.5°F
Oceanside
Median Income
$33,277
$86,701 vs $53,424/yr
Oceanside
Violent Crime
31% lower
458.7 vs 660.2 per 100k
Oceanside
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $644,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $2,078⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $86,701 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 13.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (76) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 27.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 173,722 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Oceanside's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Oceanside 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 Oceanside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $644,600 median home), income ($53,424 vs $86,701), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Oceanside, CA are about 2,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.