The Fayetteville metro is home to 563,436 people (up 7.0% over five years), with a median household income of $77,979. Typical rent of $1,571/month works out to 24.2% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Fayetteville's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 20.8% |
| Retail trade | 17.5% |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% |
| Professional & management | 10.2% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.2% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Fayetteville market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,571/month suggests a household income around $63,000/year. The metro's median household income is $77,979.
By workforce share: Education & health care (20.8%), Retail trade (17.5%), Manufacturing (11.7%) (Census ACS 5-year).