What it's like to live in Fayetteville
Fayetteville is a small city in Georgia with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Fayetteville deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
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
$3,440
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $68,800 a year
- 65% of Fayetteville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$73,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,820
- Homes cost 4.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 22% above US
$1,720/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,720 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $368,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $368,200 · 65% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Fayette County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Fayette County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 49% below US
168 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1886/100k · Fayetteville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 26% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.8 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 14% above US
41% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 41% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below 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 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (22 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fayetteville's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,720/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Fayetteville
All Georgia guides →Moving to Peachtree City →
7 mi away · pop. 39,576
Rent $2,086/mo · Income $113,987
Compare with Fayetteville →Moving to Riverdale →
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Rent $1,360/mo · Income $63,455
Compare with Fayetteville →Moving to Lovejoy →
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Rent $1,481/mo · Income $71,612
Compare with Fayetteville →Moving to Fairburn →
10 mi away · pop. 16,831
Rent $1,479/mo · Income $91,897
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