Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($158,500 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $57,699/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%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,699 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
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
$153k less
$158,500 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$57,699
$111,123 vs $53,424/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
85% lower
95.9 vs 660.2 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Pearland, 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 | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 7 and Pearland wins 16. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $311,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Pearland, TX are about 1,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.