Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $420k less ($158,500 vs $578,900)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,400)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Gate by $13,764/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Gate, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $13,764 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Fayetteville
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$420k less
$158,500 vs $578,900
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$13,764
$67,188 vs $53,424/yr
South Gate
Violent Crime
20% lower
525.6 vs 660.2 per 100k
South Gate
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.9% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and South Gate 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 Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $578,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and South Gate, CA are about 2,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.