Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 22 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($158,500 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,864)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $38,868/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 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $38,868 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$418k less
$158,500 vs $576,800
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$38,868
$92,292 vs $53,424/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
49% lower
339.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Renton wins 9. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $576,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Renton, WA are about 2,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.