Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($101,500 vs $155,600)
55% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Smith by $7,664/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Households earn $7,664 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Erie
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Violent Crime
55% lower
375.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$54k less
$101,500 vs $155,600
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 91.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$7,664
$50,799 vs $43,135/yr
Fort Smith
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $155,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $50,799 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories. Erie 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 Erie to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $155,600 median home), income ($43,135 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Fort Smith, AR are about 900 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.