Relocation profile · Federal data
Fayetteville, NC
LiveAbility 55.5/100 places Fayetteville #123 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 92.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,251
- 2BR rent / mo
- $62,837
- Median salary
- 55.5
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Fayetteville ranks #123 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (55.5/100), with its strongest marks in safety and climate.
- #123
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 11,046,024
- metro-area population
- 365
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 2,703
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: air quality (37/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Fayetteville ranks #123 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 92.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,251/mo, median salary $62,837; LiveAbility Score 55.5/100, strongest in safety and climate.
Signature: LiveAbility 55.5/100 places Fayetteville #123 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 92.0 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,251/mo.
LiveAbility 55.5/100 puts Fayetteville in the top third (#123 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Fayetteville area is 121,490.
Fayetteville vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
56 Top 32% higher than 68% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Fayetteville housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Fayetteville MSA; housing RPP 73.1 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,251/mo.
Fayetteville wages and employment
Fayetteville posts 121,490 total employment with median salary $62,837.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $30,440 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,430 |
| Registered Nurses | $83,060 |
| Cashiers | $27,390 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,170 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Fayetteville area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Fayetteville area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Fayetteville's composite Life Score is 58.5/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Fayetteville ranks #123 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 55.5/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Fayetteville - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Safety
Safety
95 /100
- Climate
Climate
69 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
63 /100
- Housing
Housing
57 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
43 /100
- Schools
Schools
41 /100
- Job market
Job market
39 /100
- Air quality 37
Air quality
37 /100
What this shows Fayetteville's strongest dimensions are safety and climate; its weakest among scored dims is air quality at 37/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Fayetteville to
Metros near Fayetteville on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Fayetteville on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Fayetteville cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Fayetteville wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Fayetteville?
Fayetteville runs a $62,837 median salary at a 92.0 cost index, ranking #123 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Fayetteville's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Fayetteville head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Fayetteville
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.