Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$56,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022 ✓ Larger
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $6,082 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($155,600 vs $291,300)
Rent averages $146/mo less ($798 vs $944)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fayetteville
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
Median income trails Fayetteville by $6,082/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Median Income
$6,082
$56,881 vs $50,799/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
50% lower
423.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$136k less
$155,600 vs $291,300
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ 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 | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 51.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 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 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Fort Smith wins 12. 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 Fayetteville to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $155,600 median home), income ($56,881 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Fort Smith, AR are about 51 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.