Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Santa Monica, 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
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $1496k less ($158,500 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1110/mo less ($1,117 vs $2,227)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
15% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $53,373/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 6.2%)
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,373 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
15% lower
660.2 vs 778.0 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$1496k less
$158,500 vs $1,654,800
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
21.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$53,373
$106,797 vs $53,424/yr
Santa Monica
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,236 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.