Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Glendale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($155,600 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $470/mo less ($798 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $15,576/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Glendale, AZ
Pros
42% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $15,576 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Smith
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$154k less
$155,600 vs $310,000
Glendale
Median Income
$15,576
$66,375 vs $50,799/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
42% lower
488.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $310,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,268 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Glendale wins 14. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $310,000 median home), income ($50,799 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Glendale, AZ are about 1,022 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.