Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $466k less ($158,500 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $736/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,853)
28% less violent crime than Richmond
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $33,194/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 6.9%)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,194 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fayetteville
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
28% lower
660.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$466k less
$158,500 vs $624,800
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$33,194
$86,618 vs $53,424/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Richmond wins 11. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $624,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Richmond, CA are about 2,396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.