Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
St. Louis
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
52% less violent crime than St. Louis
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $16k less ($158,500 vs $174,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 41°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
Cons
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 5.4%)
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $179/mo less ($938 vs $1,117)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
52% lower
660.2 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$16k less
$158,500 vs $174,100
St. Louis
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and St. Louis, MO are about 669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.