Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie 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
Grand Prairie
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $583/mo less ($798 vs $1,381)
Homes cost $87k less ($155,600 vs $242,900)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Prairie
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Grand Prairie by $25,827/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 5.0%)
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
74% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $25,827 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,381/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 28.1 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
$87k less
$155,600 vs $242,900
Grand Prairie
Median Income
$25,827
$76,626 vs $50,799/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
74% lower
221.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Grand Prairie, 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 | $242,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,381⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $76,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 76 ✓ 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 | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 26.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 81.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 197,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 59.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Grand Prairie 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 Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $242,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Grand Prairie, TX are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.