Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
9
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $73,818 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $431k less ($155,600 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $1151/mo less ($798 vs $1,949)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $73,818/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$73,818
$124,617 vs $50,799/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
79% lower
172.8 vs 842.4 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$431k less
$155,600 vs $586,500
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ 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 | 45 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 14 and Fort Smith wins 9. 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 Centennial to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $155,600 median home), income ($124,617 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Fort Smith, AR are about 645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.