Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 15 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
15
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.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $23,217 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($155,600 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $648/mo less ($798 vs $1,446)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $23,217/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
Brockton
Median Income
$23,217
$74,016 vs $50,799/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
29% lower
599.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$209k less
$155,600 vs $364,700
Fort Smith
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 15 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 7 and Fort Smith wins 15. 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 Brockton to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $155,600 median home), income ($74,016 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.