Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $619k less ($158,500 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $860/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,977)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $26,847/yr
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 7.5%)
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,847 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$619k less
$158,500 vs $777,100
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$26,847
$80,271 vs $53,424/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
34% lower
436.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Westminster wins 12. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $777,100 median home), income ($53,424 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Westminster, CA are about 2,212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.