Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo 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
Provo
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($158,500 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 41°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Cons
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 4.4%)
Median income trails Provo by $4,519/yr
Provo, UT
Pros
69% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,519 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$233k less
$158,500 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$4,519
$57,943 vs $53,424/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
69% lower
206.6 vs 660.2 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 30.5 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $391,500 median home), income ($53,424 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Provo, UT are about 1,812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.