Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fairfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
9
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,058 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($155,600 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1249/mo less ($798 vs $2,047)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 15 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 Fairfield by $48,058/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$48,058
$98,857 vs $50,799/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
41% lower
498.0 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$391k less
$155,600 vs $546,200
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 14 and Fort Smith wins 9. 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 Fairfield to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $155,600 median home), income ($98,857 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.