Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Frisco
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $376k less ($155,600 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $1005/mo less ($798 vs $1,803)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $93,768/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 3.9%)
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $93,768 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
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
$376k less
$155,600 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$93,768
$144,567 vs $50,799/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
88% lower
100.9 vs 842.4 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Frisco, 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 | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 42.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 6 and Frisco wins 17. 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 Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $531,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Frisco, TX are about 206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.