Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Overland Park
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($158,500 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,378)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $47,452/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 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $47,452 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$203k less
$158,500 vs $361,800
Overland Park
Median Income
$47,452
$100,876 vs $53,424/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
72% lower
184.4 vs 660.2 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 196,676 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Overland Park wins 14. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $361,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Overland Park, KS are about 905 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.