Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
Greensboro
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $250/mo less ($798 vs $1,048)
9% less violent crime than Greensboro
Homes cost $42k less ($155,600 vs $197,200)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Greensboro
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
Median income trails Greensboro by $4,252/yr
Greensboro, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Households earn $4,252 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
9% lower
842.4 vs 923.7 per 100k
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$42k less
$155,600 vs $197,200
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.6°F
Greensboro
Median Income
$4,252
$55,051 vs $50,799/yr
Greensboro
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,048 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $55,051 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 7.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 297,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 14 and Greensboro wins 9. 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 Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $197,200 median home), income ($50,799 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Greensboro, NC are about 817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.