Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Arlington leads 17 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
6
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
43% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $20,937 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $499/mo less ($798 vs $1,297)
Homes cost $96k less ($155,600 vs $251,300)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $20,937/yr
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$20,937
$71,736 vs $50,799/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
43% lower
482.9 vs 842.4 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$96k less
$155,600 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 17 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 17 and Fort Smith wins 6. 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 Arlington to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $155,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Fort Smith, AR are about 242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.