Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 15 of 22 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $515/mo less ($798 vs $1,313)
Homes cost $95k less ($155,600 vs $250,300)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $21,927/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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
46% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $21,927 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$95k less
$155,600 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$21,927
$72,726 vs $50,799/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
46% lower
458.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 22 categories. Fort Smith wins 7 and Fort Worth wins 15. 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 Fort Smith to Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $250,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Fort Worth, TX are about 246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.