Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$52,397 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ 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.
College Station, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($155,600 vs $305,800)
Rent averages $331/mo less ($798 vs $1,129)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than College Station
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Median Income
$1,598
$52,397 vs $50,799/yr
College Station
Violent Crime
80% lower
170.5 vs 842.4 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$150k less
$155,600 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station 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 College Station to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $155,600 median home), income ($52,397 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Fort Smith, AR are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.