Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 12 of 22 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($158,500 vs $242,200)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,461)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than South Fulton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails South Fulton by $24,064/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
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Households earn $24,064 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.8%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$84k less
$158,500 vs $242,200
South Fulton
Median Income
$24,064
$77,488 vs $53,424/yr
South Fulton
Violent Crime
29% lower
470.5 vs 660.2 per 100k
South Fulton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $242,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 91 ✓ 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 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 12 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 12 and South Fulton wins 10. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $242,200 median home), income ($53,424 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and South Fulton, GA are about 335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.