Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Conroe leads 14 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475 ✓ 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.
Conroe, TX
Pros
71% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $20,831 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($155,600 vs $262,500)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($798 vs $1,255)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Conroe by $20,831/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
Conroe
Median Income
$20,831
$71,630 vs $50,799/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
71% lower
243.5 vs 842.4 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$107k less
$155,600 vs $262,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Conroe leads 14 of 22 categories. Conroe wins 14 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 Conroe to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $155,600 median home), income ($71,630 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Fort Smith, AR are about 353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.