Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Households earn $6,003 more per year on average
Homes cost $16k less ($158,500 vs $174,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
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 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
35% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Rent averages $79/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,117)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fayetteville by $6,003/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Median Income
$6,003
$53,424 vs $47,421/yr
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$16k less
$158,500 vs $174,100
Waco
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
35% lower
425.9 vs 660.2 per 100k
Waco
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 30.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 7 and Waco wins 16. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Waco, TX are about 1,078 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.