Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh 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
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($158,500 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,371)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $25,207/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 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $25,207 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$189k less
$158,500 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$25,207
$78,631 vs $53,424/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
26% lower
488.8 vs 660.2 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $347,000 median home), income ($53,424 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Raleigh, NC are about 55 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.