Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $70,740 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
48% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fort Smith
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $842k less ($155,600 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1830/mo less ($798 vs $2,628)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $70,740/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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$70,740
$121,539 vs $50,799/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
48% lower
436.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$842k less
$155,600 vs $997,600
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, 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 | $997,600⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge'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 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge 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 Cambridge to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $155,600 median home), income ($121,539 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.