The Town FilesFayetteville, North Carolina
City in Cumberland County · population 208,501 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,000
- Household income
- $58,407
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 30.6
Fayetteville is a city of 208,501 people in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $188,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 93% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Fayetteville ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fayetteville is worth $188,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $58,407, which is more affordable than 72% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,250 a month. 47.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fayetteville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,250 | $969 |
| Median household income | $58,407 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 47.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Fayetteville
| People | Fayetteville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 18.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Fayetteville
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 0.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 151 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 23, 1975.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 122,995 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,785 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Fayetteville itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Fayetteville
66 public schools with 39,121 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Britt High | 9-12 | 1,916 | 19.6 |
| Pine Forest High | 9-12 | 1,602 | 20.3 |
| Cape Fear High | 9-12 | 1,514 | 17.8 |
| Seventy-First High | 9-12 | 1,360 | 17.7 |
| Westover High | 9-12 | 1,244 | 19.7 |
| Terry Sanford High | 9-12 | 1,213 | 19.3 |
| Mac Williams Middle | 6-8 | 1,163 | 20.1 |
| John R Griffin Middle | 6-8 | 1,057 | 16.8 |
| Alpha Academy (charter) | K-12 | 1,043 | 23.7 |
| Douglas Byrd High | 9-12 | 1,002 | 15.4 |
| E E Smith High | 9-12 | 1,000 | 16.7 |
| Douglas Byrd Middle | 6-8 | 902 | 15.8 |
Towns near Fayetteville
- Spring Lake, NC7.1 mi · 11,660 people · home $124,000
- Hope Mills, NC7.9 mi · 17,808 people · home $190,600
- Rockfish, NC8.4 mi · 3,383 people · home $199,900
- Eastover, NC10.6 mi · 3,656 people · home $241,600
- Anderson Creek, NC13.4 mi · 13,636 people · home $282,200
- Spout Springs, NC13.8 mi · 11,040 people · home $358,500
- Raeford, NC16.1 mi · 4,559 people · home $201,800
- Red Springs, NC22.4 mi · 3,087 people · home $100,800
Fayetteville questions
Is Fayetteville, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fayetteville scores better for retirees than 5% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 0%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.6).
How much does a house cost in Fayetteville?
The median owner-occupied home in Fayetteville is valued at $188,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,407, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,250 a month.
What is the weather like in Fayetteville?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Fayetteville get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)