Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
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.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
18% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $9,829 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $199/mo less ($798 vs $997)
Homes cost $17k less ($155,600 vs $172,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Amarillo
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Amarillo by $9,829/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Median Income
$9,829
$60,628 vs $50,799/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
18% lower
690.5 vs 842.4 per 100k
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$17k less
$155,600 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and Fort Smith wins 12. 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 Amarillo to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $155,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Fort Smith, AR are about 421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.