Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Fort Smith, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ 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.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,431 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($155,600 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $818/mo less ($798 vs $1,616)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $42,431/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
Fontana
Median Income
$42,431
$93,230 vs $50,799/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
68% lower
270.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$351k less
$155,600 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $155,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $798 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $50,799 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 222⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 83.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 89,315 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 51.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Fort Smith's 85.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana 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 Fontana to Fort Smith or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $155,600 median home), income ($93,230 vs $50,799), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Fort Smith, AR are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.