Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Gresham
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($155,600 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $654/mo less ($798 vs $1,452)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Gresham by $18,638/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
Gresham, OR
Pros
51% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $18,638 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$256k less
$155,600 vs $411,700
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Median Income
$18,638
$69,437 vs $50,799/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
51% lower
410.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 113,525 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Gresham 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $411,700 median home), income ($50,799 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Gresham, OR are about 1,623 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.