Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ 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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
51% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $9,140 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fort Smith
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($155,600 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($798 vs $1,390)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Commutes run 10 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 Elizabeth by $9,140/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$9,140
$59,939 vs $50,799/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
51% lower
408.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$203k less
$155,600 vs $358,400
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories. Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $155,600 median home), income ($59,939 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.