Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614 ✓ 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.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $29,561 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($155,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $862/mo less ($798 vs $1,660)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 16 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 Federal Way by $29,561/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
Federal Way
Median Income
$29,561
$80,360 vs $50,799/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
35% lower
545.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$299k less
$155,600 vs $454,300
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 83.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 2.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way 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 Federal Way to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $155,600 median home), income ($80,360 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.