Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 15 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,054 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $385k less ($155,600 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $867/mo less ($798 vs $1,665)
15% less violent crime than Denver
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $35,054/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$35,054
$85,853 vs $50,799/yr
Denver
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
15% lower
842.4 vs 993.0 per 100k
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$385k less
$155,600 vs $540,400
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, 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 | $540,400⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver'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, Fort Smith leads 15 of 23 categories. Denver wins 8 and Fort Smith wins 15. 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 Denver to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $155,600 median home), income ($85,853 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Fort Smith, AR are about 651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.