Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
13
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $23,911 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($155,600 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $498/mo less ($798 vs $1,296)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $23,911/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 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$23,911
$74,710 vs $50,799/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
26% lower
619.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$161k less
$155,600 vs $316,600
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham wins 10 and Fort Smith wins 13. 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 Durham to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $155,600 median home), income ($74,710 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Fort Smith, AR are about 869 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.