Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
11
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
62% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $10,682 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fort Smith
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 6.1%)
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($155,600 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $471/mo less ($798 vs $1,269)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Eugene by $10,682/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$10,682
$61,481 vs $50,799/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
62% lower
317.9 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$250k less
$155,600 vs $406,000
Fort Smith
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 12 and Fort Smith wins 11. 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 Eugene to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $155,600 median home), income ($61,481 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.