Fayetteville NC vs Huntington WV — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Fayetteville, NC

North Carolina · Population: 209,692

  • Median HH Income$56,395
  • Median Home Price$226,710
  • Unemployment8.2%
  • Bachelor's+28.6%

Huntington, WV

West Virginia · Population: 46,189

  • Median HH Income$43,146
  • Median Home Price$138,553
  • Unemployment7.6%
  • Bachelor's+34.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fayetteville
209,692
Fayetteville +
Huntington
46,189
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fayetteville
N/A
Huntington
N/A
Median Age
Fayetteville
30.7
Fayetteville +
Huntington
34.9
Foreign Born
Fayetteville
7.6%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
1.8%
White
Fayetteville
38.3%
Huntington
85.0%
Huntington +
Black
Fayetteville
42.3%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
6.5%
Asian
Fayetteville
3.1%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
1.3%
Hispanic
Fayetteville
13.0%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
2.0%
Spanish at Home
Fayetteville
N/A
Huntington
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fayetteville
$56,395
Fayetteville +
Huntington
$43,146
Per Capita Income
Fayetteville
$31,467
Fayetteville +
Huntington
$30,024
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fayetteville
$59,120
Fayetteville +
Huntington
$50,163
Unemployment Rate
Fayetteville
8.2%
Huntington
7.6%
Huntington +
Poverty Rate
Fayetteville
18.1%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
27.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Fayetteville
28.6%
Huntington
34.4%
Huntington +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fayetteville
$226,710
Huntington
$138,553
Huntington +
Homeownership Rate
Fayetteville
46.5%
Huntington
52.5%
Huntington +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fayetteville
398
Huntington
398
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fayetteville
1999
Huntington
1999
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
40.4%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
46.4%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
12.6%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
15.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fayetteville
18.8%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
24.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
11.9%
Huntington
9.7%
Huntington +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
15.5%
Huntington
13.7%
Huntington +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fayetteville
14.9%
Fayetteville +
Huntington
20.6%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fayetteville
61.2°F
Huntington
56.1°F
Huntington +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fayetteville
45.4 in
Huntington
43.1 in
Huntington +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fayetteville
20.6 min
Huntington
20.2 min
Huntington +

Which City is Right for You?

Fayetteville leads in median household income at $56,395, while huntington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $138,553. On public safety, Huntington is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Fayetteville. Huntington has a lower unemployment rate at 7.6%, and Fayetteville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fayetteville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 40.4%.

Compare More Cities

About Fayetteville & Huntington