Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Concord leads 15 of 23 categories
Concord
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
8
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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,990 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Cost of living runs 33% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $551k less ($155,600 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $1339/mo less ($798 vs $2,137)
33% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 17 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 Concord by $56,990/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 4.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$56,990
$107,789 vs $50,799/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
42% lower
484.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
33% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$551k less
$155,600 vs $706,700
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 33% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 15 of 23 categories. Concord wins 15 and Fort Smith wins 8. 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 Concord to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $155,600 median home), income ($107,789 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,536 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.