Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($158,500 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $35,042/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%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $35,042 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 54°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$146k less
$158,500 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$35,042
$88,466 vs $53,424/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
64% lower
235.7 vs 660.2 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $304,000 median home), income ($53,424 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.