Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 16 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
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.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($155,600 vs $217,700)
18% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Rent averages $212/mo less ($798 vs $1,010)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
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
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$644
$50,799 vs $50,155/yr
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
18% lower
842.4 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$62k less
$155,600 vs $217,700
Fort Smith
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $50,799 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge'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 16 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 7 and Fort Smith wins 16. 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 Baton Rouge to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $155,600 median home), income ($50,155 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Fort Smith, AR are about 388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.