City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Fayetteville, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fayetteville - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

209,692
Residents
$56,395
Median income
$171,900
Median home
$1,251
Median rent (state)

Fayetteville - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Fayetteville places in the 29th percentile for household income and the 9th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

29th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
41st
percentile, median rent
9th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fayetteville, NC

209,692 people live in Fayetteville, North Carolina - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Fayetteville brings in $56,395 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.5%. Typical homes in Fayetteville are valued around $171,900, and the median resident age is 30.7 years. Educational attainment runs 28.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 46.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 525 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 1% from five years earlier. Fayetteville's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3754.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,251 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 89.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

209,692 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$56,395 /yr

Poverty 14.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Fayetteville compare to other US cities?

Fayetteville measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% pricier than other cities
Safety 9% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, Fayetteville ranks #147 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fayetteville against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of North Carolina's city distribution

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fayetteville ranks #230 - the 68th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fayetteville only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#382 of 700
45th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#230 of 746
68th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#422 of 708
40th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#251 of 746
66th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#246 of 746
67th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

29thIncome percentile
9thSafety percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income · 9th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fayetteville's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fayetteville's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Fayetteville's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fayetteville's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$171,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fayetteville $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fayetteville, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fayetteville, NC median $56,395/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fayetteville, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fayetteville, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
209,692
Median Income
$56,395
Median Home Value
$171,900
Median Age
30.7
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Labor force participation
46.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3754.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
660.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3094.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
68
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
208,000 residents209,000 residents210,000 residents211,000 residents212,000 residents213,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 210,827 residents 209,120 residents ▼ -0.8%
Fayetteville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
525
housing units authorized
Single-Family
431
detached homes
Multifamily
94
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 522
2020 291
2021 397
2022 649
2023 515
2024 525

Permit volume increased 1% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.2%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
7.0%
Work from Home
6.6%
Other
1.7%

Based on 101,236 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fayetteville sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,251/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Cary
176,686 people
Winston-Salem
250,887 people
Durham
288,465 people
Greensboro
298,564 people
Wilmington
118,578 people
High Point
115,263 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fayetteville's 209,692 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Rochester, NY
209,720 people
Yonkers, NY
209,529 people
Frisco, TX
210,238 people
Moreno Valley, CA
210,378 people
Fontana, CA
211,921 people
Des Moines, IA
212,464 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fayetteville's $56,395 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Frackville, PA
$56,394 median income
Blossom, TX
$56,397 median income
Schenectady, NY
$56,398 median income
Springfield, GA
$56,389 median income
Salisbury, MD
$56,402 median income
Douglas, AL
$56,406 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fayetteville, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fayetteville, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 38.3% 42.3% 11.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.0% White 38.3% Black or African American 42.3% Asian 3.1% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 4.0% Two or more races 11.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fayetteville compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fayetteville (this city) 209,692 $56,395
Cary 176,686 $129,399
Winston-Salem 250,887 $57,673
Durham 288,465 $79,234
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fayetteville, NC?

What is the population of Fayetteville, NC? +

Fayetteville, NC has a population of 209,692 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fayetteville, NC? +

In Fayetteville, the typical household earns $56,395 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fayetteville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fayetteville; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Fayetteville, NC safe? +

Fayetteville has a total crime rate of 3754.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fayetteville, NC? +

A typical home in Fayetteville is worth $171,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.