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Living in
Fayetteville.
About
Life in Fayetteville
If you're thinking about moving to Fayetteville, you're looking at a city that's genuinely growing—the population has jumped from around 73,000 to nearly 97,000 in just over a decade, and it's still climbing. The job market here is solid with unemployment at 3.5%, fueled by the University of Arkansas's shift into research and innovation, plus the ripple effects from nearby Fortune 500 companies like Walmart and Tyson Foods that have pumped resources into the university's business, agricultural, and logistics programs. There's a real entrepreneurial vibe too—the city has actively positioned itself as "The Startup City of the South," and you'll find a younger, educated population (median age 27.9, nearly 50% with college degrees) that keeps things dynamic.
Fayetteville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.6%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
91.9%
of households
Population Growth
+13.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Fayetteville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fayetteville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.2%), and 4.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.0%
of residents
65 and Older
9.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.9%
of households
Married Couples
35.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% above AR average
Rent, home values, and income in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, rent runs 12% above the AR average, and home values are 86% above the AR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,946
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $379,367 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below AR average
Unemployment in Fayetteville
Unemployment in Fayetteville is 0.6 percentage points lower than the AR average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Fayetteville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.5 min avg
How Fayetteville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fayetteville, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fayetteville runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
446.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,910.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fayetteville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes Fayetteville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.2M |
| 2024 | 17 | Hail | $482,000 |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $217,000 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20.6M |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $112,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $872,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $170,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washington County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, which includes Fayetteville, is typically good — 304 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
304
per year
Moderate Days
61
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Washington County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fayetteville has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.3"
Annual Snowfall
6.5"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
83
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
91
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 27°F | 2.57" |
| Feb | 51°F | 30°F | 2.31" |
| Mar | 59°F | 38°F | 3.74" |
| Apr | 69°F | 47°F | 4.51" |
| May | 76°F | 56°F | 6.01" |
| Jun | 84°F | 66°F | 4.68" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 3.59" |
| Aug | 89°F | 68°F | 3.44" |
| Sep | 81°F | 60°F | 4.53" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 4.05" |
| Nov | 59°F | 38°F | 3.99" |
| Dec | 50°F | 30°F | 2.86" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 4.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fayetteville
Fayetteville has 4 hospitals, averaging 4.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
8.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.5 / 5
Fayetteville Ar VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Washington Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Vista Health Fayetteville
Psychiatric
Springwoods Behavioral Health Services
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Arkansas Children's Northwest, Inc.
Childrens · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Springdale
Northwest Medical Center-springdale
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Springdale
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fayetteville
Fayetteville's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 49.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
9
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Fayetteville
Public · 4-year · 28,677 students · in-state tuition $10,496 · 68% graduate · median earnings $63,588 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 108 students · in-state tuition $17,300 · 29% graduate · median earnings $43,102 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pea Ridge National Military Park, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fayetteville
Fayetteville has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pea Ridge National Military Park (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pea Ridge National Military Park
National Military Park
27 mi awayFort Smith National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayGeorge Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
64 mi awayBuffalo National River
National River
70 mi awayWilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fayetteville
Fayetteville Public Library
401 W. Mountain Street, Fayetteville
Washington County Library System
1080 West Clydesdale Dr, Fayetteville
Cities Near Fayetteville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fayetteville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fayetteville FAQ
Is Fayetteville, Arkansas affordable?⌄
Fayetteville's median rent is $1,065/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,695/year. Median home value is $349,600.
Is Fayetteville, Arkansas safe?⌄
Fayetteville's violent crime rate was 446 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1910 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fayetteville, Arkansas?⌄
Fayetteville has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fayetteville, Arkansas?⌄
The cost of living in Fayetteville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,065/month and median household income is $62,695/year. The median home value is $349,600. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fayetteville, Arkansas?⌄
The average commute in Fayetteville is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from