Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Deltona, FL
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Deltona
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,074 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
94,373 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
10
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.
Deltona, FL
Pros
Households earn $18,275 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 34.4 min average each way
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $619/mo less ($798 vs $1,417)
Homes cost $71k less ($155,600 vs $226,800)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Deltona
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Deltona by $18,275/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 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Deltona
Median Income
$18,275
$69,074 vs $50,799/yr
Deltona
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$71k less
$155,600 vs $226,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Deltona, FL | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,800 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,074 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.4 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.6% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | VOLUSIA | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.1°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,373 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.3% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Deltona's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Deltona wins 10 and Fort Smith wins 10. 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 Deltona to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,800 vs $155,600 median home), income ($69,074 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Deltona, FL and Fort Smith, AR are about 888 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.