Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane 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 ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
Spokane
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($158,500 vs $286,900)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
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 Spokane by $9,892/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.2%)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $9,892 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
2% lower
660.2 vs 674.9 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$128k less
$158,500 vs $286,900
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Income
$9,892
$63,316 vs $53,424/yr
Spokane
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $286,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Spokane, WA are about 2,148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.