Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
St. Paul
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($158,500 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 24°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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 St. Paul by $16,495/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $16,495 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Fayetteville
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fayetteville
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$106k less
$158,500 vs $264,900
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$16,495
$69,919 vs $53,424/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
6% lower
617.7 vs 660.2 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 15.4% ✓ 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 | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 and St. Paul wins 14. 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. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and St. Paul, MN are about 1,009 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.