Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
7
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $83,340 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fort Smith
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $915k less ($155,600 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1679/mo less ($798 vs $2,477)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 12 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 Carlsbad by $83,340/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
Carlsbad
Median Income
$83,340
$134,139 vs $50,799/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
76% lower
199.1 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$915k less
$155,600 vs $1,070,500
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 16 and Fort Smith wins 7. 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 Carlsbad to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $155,600 median home), income ($134,139 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.