Fayetteville AR vs Minneapolis MN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fayetteville, AR

Arkansas · Population: 97,227

  • Median HH Income$59,074
  • Median Home Price$380,101
  • Unemployment4.9%
  • Bachelor's+49.8%

Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota · Population: 426,845

  • Median HH Income$80,269
  • Median Home Price$334,719
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+54.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fayetteville
97,227
Minneapolis
426,845
Minneapolis +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fayetteville
N/A
Minneapolis
N/A
Median Age
Fayetteville
28.7
Fayetteville +
Minneapolis
33.0
Foreign Born
Fayetteville
5.7%
Minneapolis
14.1%
Minneapolis +
White
Fayetteville
75.6%
Fayetteville +
Minneapolis
61.6%
Black
Fayetteville
5.2%
Minneapolis
18.3%
Minneapolis +
Asian
Fayetteville
3.1%
Minneapolis
5.2%
Minneapolis +
Hispanic
Fayetteville
7.7%
Minneapolis
10.5%
Minneapolis +
Spanish at Home
Fayetteville
N/A
Minneapolis
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fayetteville
$59,074
Minneapolis
$80,269
Minneapolis +
Per Capita Income
Fayetteville
$37,885
Minneapolis
$50,605
Minneapolis +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fayetteville
$53,714
Minneapolis
$69,467
Minneapolis +
Unemployment Rate
Fayetteville
4.9%
Fayetteville +
Minneapolis
5.7%
Poverty Rate
Fayetteville
21.4%
Minneapolis
16.4%
Minneapolis +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fayetteville
49.8%
Minneapolis
54.4%
Minneapolis +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fayetteville
$380,101
Minneapolis
$334,719
Minneapolis +
Homeownership Rate
Fayetteville
41.9%
Minneapolis
48.0%
Minneapolis +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fayetteville
660
Minneapolis
284
Minneapolis +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fayetteville
2507
Minneapolis
1992
Minneapolis +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
33.5%
Minneapolis
28.6%
Minneapolis +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
7.5%
Minneapolis
7.4%
Minneapolis +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fayetteville
20.8%
Minneapolis
17.1%
Minneapolis +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
10.5%
Minneapolis
9.9%
Minneapolis +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
17.6%
Fayetteville +
Minneapolis
19.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
12.0%
Fayetteville +
Minneapolis
12.7%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fayetteville
58.2°F
Minneapolis
46.3°F
Minneapolis +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fayetteville
45.5 in
Minneapolis
30.6 in
Minneapolis +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fayetteville
9.5 µg/m³
Minneapolis
8.1 µg/m³
Minneapolis +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fayetteville
55.0%
Minneapolis
75.0%
Minneapolis +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fayetteville
19.9 min
Fayetteville +
Minneapolis
24.2 min

Which City is Right for You?

Minneapolis leads in median household income at $80,269, while minneapolis offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $334,719. On public safety, Minneapolis is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Fayetteville. Fayetteville has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and Minneapolis has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Minneapolis scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Fayetteville & Minneapolis