Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 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
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($155,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $1041/mo less ($798 vs $1,839)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $64,380/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 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $64,380 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fort Smith
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$299k less
$155,600 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$64,380
$115,179 vs $50,799/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
84% lower
132.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 7 and Gilbert wins 16. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $454,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Gilbert, AZ are about 1,000 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.