Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682 ✓ 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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $9,130 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Fort Smith
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($155,600 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $807/mo less ($798 vs $1,605)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Monte by $9,130/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$9,130
$59,929 vs $50,799/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
50% lower
423.2 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
$442k less
$155,600 vs $597,200
Fort Smith
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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. El Monte 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 El Monte to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $155,600 median home), income ($59,929 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.