Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (8.4%)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $11,274/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, TX
Pros
14% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $11,274 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 54°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$13k less
$158,500 vs $171,600
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
8.4% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$11,274
$64,698 vs $53,424/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
14% lower
566.1 vs 660.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $171,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Pasadena wins 12. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $171,600 median home), income ($53,424 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Pasadena, TX are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.