Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 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
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $721k less ($158,500 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $828/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,945)
15% less violent crime than Seattle
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $62,644/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%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $62,644 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
15% lower
660.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$721k less
$158,500 vs $879,900
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$62,644
$116,068 vs $53,424/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Seattle, 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 | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $879,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Seattle, WA are about 2,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.