Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.8%)
Households earn $8,455 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $262/mo less ($798 vs $1,060)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Abilene
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Abilene by $8,455/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Median Income
$8,455
$59,254 vs $50,799/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
50% lower
424.5 vs 842.4 per 100k
Abilene
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 89.8 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 16.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Fort Smith wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $155,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Fort Smith, AR are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.