Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland 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 ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($158,500 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $413/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,530)
8% less violent crime than Portland
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $32,452/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 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $32,452 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
8% lower
660.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$365k less
$158,500 vs $523,100
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$32,452
$85,876 vs $53,424/yr
Portland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $523,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Portland, OR are about 2,379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.