Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($158,500 vs $293,000)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,214)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Providence by $7,941/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.2%)
Providence, RI
Pros
58% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.2%)
Households earn $7,941 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$135k less
$158,500 vs $293,000
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Income
$7,941
$61,365 vs $53,424/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
58% lower
276.7 vs 660.2 per 100k
Providence
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Providence wins 11. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $293,000 median home), income ($53,424 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Providence, RI are about 619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.