Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Reno
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($158,500 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,360)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 46°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $19,649/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 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $19,649 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$304k less
$158,500 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$19,649
$73,073 vs $53,424/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
20% lower
529.6 vs 660.2 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and Reno wins 14. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $462,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Reno, NV are about 2,248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.