Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
14% less violent crime than Syracuse
Households earn $9,840 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
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
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $41k less ($117,900 vs $158,500)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($932 vs $1,117)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fayetteville by $9,840/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$9,840
$53,424 vs $43,584/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
14% lower
660.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$41k less
$117,900 vs $158,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Syracuse 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($53,424 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Syracuse, NY are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.