Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Escondido, CA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Escondido leads 13 of 23 categories
Escondido
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
151,114 ✓ 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.
Escondido, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,755 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,400
Higher rents — median is $1,833/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fort Smith
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $461k less ($155,600 vs $616,400)
Rent averages $1035/mo less ($798 vs $1,833)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Escondido
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Escondido by $26,755/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Escondido
Median Income
$26,755
$77,554 vs $50,799/yr
Escondido
Violent Crime
49% lower
433.5 vs 842.4 per 100k
Escondido
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$461k less
$155,600 vs $616,400
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Escondido, CA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,400⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,833⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,554 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.1% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Escondido Union | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.9" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 151,114 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.8% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Escondido's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Escondido leads 13 of 23 categories. Escondido 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 Escondido to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,400 vs $155,600 median home), income ($77,554 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Escondido, CA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.