Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (8.4%)
Households earn $10,572 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
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
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($96,900 vs $158,500)
49% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Rent averages $175/mo less ($942 vs $1,117)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fayetteville by $10,572/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 8.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$10,572
$53,424 vs $42,852/yr
Fayetteville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
8.4% vs 11.3% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Violent Crime
49% lower
337.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$62k less
$96,900 vs $158,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 31.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 15 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 15 and Reading wins 8. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $96,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Reading, PA are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.