Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
14
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $13,320 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($155,600 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $571/mo less ($798 vs $1,369)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $13,320/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$13,320
$64,119 vs $50,799/yr
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
34% lower
558.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$427k less
$155,600 vs $582,400
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 9 and Fort Smith wins 14. 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 East Los Angeles to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $155,600 median home), income ($64,119 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.