Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville is a great place to raise a military family. Not only is it known as a military town, but it was also named the “World’s First Sanctuary for Soldiers and Their Families” in 2008. This means that, within the county, soldiers are provided with local services, ranging from free childcare to job placement for soldiers’ spouses. There may not be a ton to do, but activities in Fayetteville can be enjoyed by the entire family. If your family likes being outdoors, check out the Cape Fear River Trail or the Cape Fear River Botanical Garden. There are also a ton of festivals to enjoy in the summer, and the beaches are only an hour and a half drive away!

Looking at the statistics, the crime rate in Fayetteville cannot be ignored. You’ll hear a divided view of Fayetteville from both current residents and past residents. If you talk to a local, they’ll tell you to take steps like making sure to lock your doors at night and not to leave any valuables in your car. Overall, the sentiment seems to be that things are getting better, and the city has committed the dollars to make it so.

Fayetteville is, above all else, a military town. A high proportion of residents work for defense, at either Fort Bragg or Pope Army Airfield. With such a high proportion of residents enlisted, it makes sense that it would seep into the everyday life of the city. It’s a very diverse city with a focus on family and family-friendly activities. The median age of residents is 30 years old and, yes, the military also affects the dating pool. Most of the people you find on dating apps or gasp in person will either be involved with the military or moved to the city for someone who is.

If you want to see what happens in Fayetteville check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Fayetteville and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

Fort Bragg is the backbone of the local economy, being the top employer ahead of Cape Fear Valley Health System and Cumberland County Public School System. Besides Fort Bragg, there are 8 of the top 10 defense contractors located in the area, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Gruman, and others. The military brings in an almost unbelievable amount of money to the city, and, by design, it is a huge retail destination.