Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Gainesville, FL
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Gainesville
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $353/mo less ($798 vs $1,151)
Homes cost $61k less ($155,600 vs $216,600)
Households earn $7,016 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gainesville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Gainesville, FL
Pros
12% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Smith by $7,016/yr
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 96.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$7,016
$50,799 vs $43,783/yr
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$61k less
$155,600 vs $216,600
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 91.1°F
Gainesville
Violent Crime
12% lower
738.0 vs 842.4 per 100k
Gainesville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Gainesville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.9 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $216,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,151 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 ✓ Higher | $43,783 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 194⚠ 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) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 50.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | ALACHUA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 142,414 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 26.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Gainesville's 96.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Gainesville wins 11. 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 Gainesville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $216,600 median home), income ($50,799 vs $43,783), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Gainesville, FL are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.