Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Fayetteville, NC

    Is Fayetteville a good place to live?

    Watch Fayetteville

    Fayetteville ranks #37 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (34/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $171,900
    +8.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,179
    per month
    Household income
    $56,395
    median
    Unemployment
    8.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Fayetteville

    The median home value in Fayetteville is $171,900 and median rent is $1,179 a month, against a median household income of $56,395. Homes cost about 3.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Fayetteville crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Fayetteville, NC

    Fayetteville has about 209,692 residents, 8.2% unemployment and 19% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Fayetteville with

    Fayetteville vs CharlotteFayetteville vs RaleighFayetteville vs GreensboroFayetteville vs DurhamFayetteville vs Winston-SalemFayetteville vs CaryFayetteville vs WilmingtonFayetteville vs High Point

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report