Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Fayetteville leads 16 of 21 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
36% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (8.4%)
Households earn $8,980 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Trenton
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $47k less ($111,200 vs $158,500)
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fayetteville by $8,980/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 8.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$8,980
$53,424 vs $44,444/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
36% lower
660.2 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
8.4% vs 10.2% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Median Home Value
$47k less
$111,200 vs $158,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 16 of 21 categories. Fayetteville wins 16 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $111,200 median home), income ($53,424 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Trenton, NJ are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.