Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,886 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($155,600 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $853/mo less ($798 vs $1,651)
11% less violent crime than Aurora
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $27,886/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
Aurora
Median Income
$27,886
$78,685 vs $50,799/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
11% lower
842.4 vs 947.8 per 100k
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$254k less
$155,600 vs $409,700
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Fort Smith wins 13. 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 Aurora to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $155,600 median home), income ($78,685 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Fort Smith, AR are about 641 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.