What it's like to live in Fayetteville
Fayetteville is a large city in North Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. 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 car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- 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
$2,500
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,000 a year
- 49% of Fayetteville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$37,600
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,800
- Homes cost 3.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,250/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,250 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $188,000. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $188,000 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 86% above US
614 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2828/100k · Fayetteville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 19% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
55 public schools inside the boundary
There are 55 public schools inside the boundary and 15 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, 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 Moores Creek National Battlefield (66 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fayetteville's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,250/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Fayetteville →·All North Carolina cities →
Other places near Fayetteville
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Compare with Fayetteville →Moving to Anderson Creek →
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