Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
8
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $44,771 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fort Smith
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($155,600 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1372/mo less ($798 vs $2,170)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $44,771/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
Boca Raton
Median Income
$44,771
$95,570 vs $50,799/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
80% lower
171.0 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$442k less
$155,600 vs $597,100
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 and Fort Smith wins 8. 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 Boca Raton to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $155,600 median home), income ($95,570 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.