Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6
Median Household Income
$54,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964 ✓ 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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,340 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($798 vs $920)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
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
Median income trails Edinburg by $3,340/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Median Income
$3,340
$54,139 vs $50,799/yr
Edinburg
Violent Crime
68% lower
269.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 85.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 13 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 Edinburg to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $155,600 median home), income ($54,139 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Fort Smith, AR are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.