Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
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.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
46% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Homes cost $43k less ($112,600 vs $155,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Smith by $4,064/yr
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,064 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Brownsville
Violent Crime
46% lower
456.0 vs 842.4 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$43k less
$112,600 vs $155,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 85.2 on the COL index
Fort Smith
Median Income
$4,064
$50,799 vs $46,735/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $155,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $50,799 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 11 and Fort Smith wins 12. 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 Brownsville to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $155,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Fort Smith, AR are about 672 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.