Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
11
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.
Asheville, NC
Pros
5% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $13,011 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($155,600 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $452/mo less ($798 vs $1,250)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $13,011/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$13,011
$63,810 vs $50,799/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
5% lower
796.1 vs 842.4 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$221k less
$155,600 vs $376,800
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 12 and Fort Smith wins 11. 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 Asheville to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $155,600 median home), income ($63,810 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Fort Smith, AR are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.