Best Life Index › States › North Carolina › Cities › Fayetteville

North Carolina city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Fayetteville?

What it costs to live in Fayetteville, and how it compares with other North Carolina cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

54

30th best value in North Carolina

How much you get for what you pay, versus other North Carolina cities.

Overall livability

46

41st overall in North Carolina

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Fayetteville is home to about 208,497 people. A typical home runs $138,800 and a household earns around $48,900, a price-to-income ratio of 2.8. Among North Carolina's largest cities, it ranks 30th for value and 41st overall.

Fayetteville at a glance

Median home price

$138,800

11th in NC of 71

Median rent

$1,017/mo

Median household income

$48,900

Home price to income

2.8x

Unemployment

8.6%

63rd in NC of 71

School rating

3/10

40th in NC of 71

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NC of 71

Walk score

25/100

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‹ See all top North Carolina cities ranked  ยท  North Carolina state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within North Carolina only. Updated 2026.