Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | Huntsville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 577,726 | 516,951 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $81,650 | $85,989 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,582 | $46,601 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 220/sq mi | 379/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $307,200 | $295,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,157 | $1,183 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.3% | 70.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 4.2% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 42.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9,469 | 4,575 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 16.4 | 8.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 12.4% | 6.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.0" | 54.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 24.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.7 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, cold wave.
Huntsville
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake, inland flooding.
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Full profiles: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR Metro Area · Huntsville, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology