Augusta vs Fayetteville

The short version

  • Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
  • The median home costs $178,400 in Augusta and $188,000 in Fayetteville.
  • Households earn more in Fayetteville ($58,407 vs $55,485 median).
  • Augusta has the warmer winter: January highs of 60°F vs 54°F.
  • Augusta has more scorching days: 86 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 53.

Side by side

Augusta, GAFayetteville, NC
People
Population (2025)201,999209,120
Growth since 2020+0%+0.3%
People per square mile6681,410
Median age35.230.6
Bachelor's degree or higher25%29%
Money and housing
Median household income$55,485$58,407
Median home value$178,400$188,000
Home value to income3.2×3.2×
Median rent (with utilities)$1,142$1,250
Metro price level (US = 100)91.992.0
Housing price level (US = 100)70.673.1
$75,000 elsewhere equals$68,900$69,000
Homeowners51%47%
Top state income tax5.19%3.99%
Combined sales tax7.56%7.1%
Work and commute
Average commute (minutes)21.119.1
Work from home9%8%
Take public transit1%1%
Unemployment (2020-24 avg)8.6%7.9%
Poverty rate20.1%17.7%
Weather
January high / low60° / 35°54° / 32°
July high / low94° / 72°91° / 71°
Precipitation per year44 in48 in
Snowfall per year1 in1 in
Days 90°F or hotter8653
Nights below freezing5163
Comfortable months53
Risks, air and home prices
Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county)Relatively ModerateRelatively Moderate
FEMA risk score (lower is safer)87.489.5
Good air days, 202546%69%
Home prices, past year+5%+2.6%
Home prices, past 5 years+49.2%+57.1%

Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.

Weather, month by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Augusta Fayetteville. Solid lines are average highs, dashed lines average lows (°F), NOAA 1991-2020 normals.

Most comfortable months: Augusta: March to May and October to November. Fayetteville: April to May and October.

Full monthly tables: Augusta weather by month and Fayetteville weather by month.

What $75,000 is worth

A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,900 in Augusta and $69,000 in Fayetteville. Moving from Augusta to Fayetteville, you would need about $75,100 to match a $75,000 salary.

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Moving between Augusta and Fayetteville

126people moved from Richmond County, GA to Cumberland County, NC in a year
82moved the other way

IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Augusta and Fayetteville.

Which would you pick?

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