Fayetteville NC vs Jonesboro AR — 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%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fayetteville

209,692

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fayetteville

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Fayetteville

30.7

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Fayetteville

7.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Fayetteville

38.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Fayetteville

42.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Fayetteville

3.1%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Fayetteville

13.0%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Fayetteville

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	209,692	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	30.7	N/A	-
Foreign Born	7.6%	N/A	-
White	38.3%	N/A	-
Black	42.3%	N/A	-
Asian	3.1%	N/A	-
Hispanic	13.0%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fayetteville

$56,395

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Fayetteville

$31,467

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fayetteville

$59,120

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Fayetteville

8.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Fayetteville

18.1%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Fayetteville

28.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$56,395	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$31,467	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$59,120	$53,714	Fayetteville +
Unemployment Rate	8.2%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	18.1%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	28.6%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fayetteville

$226,710

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Homeownership Rate

Fayetteville

46.5%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$226,710	$225,577	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	46.5%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fayetteville

398

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fayetteville

1999

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	660	Fayetteville +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	2507	Fayetteville +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fayetteville

40.4%

Jonesboro

39.2%

Jonesboro +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fayetteville

12.6%

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fayetteville

18.8%

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fayetteville

11.9%

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fayetteville

15.5%

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fayetteville

14.9%

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	40.4%	39.2%	Jonesboro +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	12.6%	11.4%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	18.8%	20.5%	Fayetteville +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.9%	11.6%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.5%	15.1%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.9%	15.7%	Fayetteville +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fayetteville

61.2°F

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fayetteville

45.4 in

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	61.2°F	59.2°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	45.4 in	48.2 in	Fayetteville +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fayetteville

8.7 µg/m³

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fayetteville

75.0%

Fayetteville +

Jonesboro

55.0%

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.7 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Fayetteville +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Fayetteville +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fayetteville

20.6 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fayetteville, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	20.6 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Fayetteville is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Fayetteville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Jonesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.2%.

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About Fayetteville & Jonesboro

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