AreaScoop
Fayetteville, NC

Photo: Wikipedia

Fayetteville, NC

Find The Best Places To Live
in Fayetteville

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.

Demographics

DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 69
Population209,692
Foreign Born3.4%
Population Density1,414people per mi²
Median Age30.7 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

85/100

15% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Fayetteville, North Carolina

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $19k$35k
Comfortable $33k$49k
Luxury $98k+$151k+
Elite (Top 5%) $115k+$178k+
Affordability Ratio

115%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean82%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
16
Poor
9
Negative
2

Groceries

8 within 10 miles

1.1mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Hospital

7 within 20 miles

4.4mi

Airport

RDU — Raleigh–Durham International

55.8mi

Post Office

USPS — Fayetteville, NC

2mi

Critical Amenities

Golf1Nearest 4 mi
Camping6Nearest 8.9 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range2Nearest 4.4 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$56k+5.6%
25% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$423k
35% below US avg
College Educated
28.6%
18% below US avg
WFH
6.6%
54% below US avg
Homeownership
46.5%
29% below US avg
Median Home
$172k
39% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
19.6
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−23.6%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−27.6%
Homicide*
0.06 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery*
0.38 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault*
2.32 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr−19.5%
Burglary*
2.73 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft*
11.86 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft*
1.90 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025* = State-level data substituted where local agency has not published figures

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+8Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Fayetteville, North Carolina
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.9% of income
Property Rights
C+
FairIJ Grade C+
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
D-
PoorHigh regulation

Energy independence: Importer (15% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
C+
LimitedHerd shares only
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A-
Broadly LegalMedical + Decrim.

Homesteading

Growing Season244 days334 frost-free
Annual Rainfall53.0"
Elevation226 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
C-
Weak474 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,414/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C
Weak4 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Hurricane, Tornado, Heat Wave, Earthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 542 mi · coast 83 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$90.2M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityRaleigh468k people are 52 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital52 miRaleigh, NC
Nearest Prison4.0 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T19:18:20.000Z

What your realtor won't tell you!

Find the best place to live

Go beyond the listing to get the inside scoop on any home in the US.

PRO TIP! You can paste a Zillow or Redfin link.