What it's like to live in Fayetteville
Fayetteville is a smaller city in Arkansas with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Fayetteville deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High poverty rate
How Fayetteville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Fayetteville
Based on Fayetteville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,130
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,600 a year
- 45% of Fayetteville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$69,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,960
- Homes cost 5.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 25% below US
$1,065/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,065 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $349,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $349,600 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 35% above US
446 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1910/100k · Fayetteville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 29% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
4 hospitals
There are 4 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 36% above US
49% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 49% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
20 public schools inside the boundary
There are 20 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pea Ridge National Military Park (27 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fayetteville's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,065/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Fayetteville
All Arkansas guides →Moving to Springdale →
8 mi away · pop. 88,160
Rent $1,071/mo · Income $69,787
Compare with Fayetteville →Moving to Lowell →
13 mi away · pop. 10,849
Rent $1,136/mo · Income $95,527
Compare with Fayetteville →Moving to Rogers →
17 mi away · pop. 72,981
Rent $1,270/mo · Income $86,728
Compare with Fayetteville →Moving to Bentonville →
20 mi away · pop. 58,249
Rent $1,344/mo · Income $112,792
Compare with Fayetteville →Not sure Fayetteville is the one?
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