Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Hemet leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Hemet
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($155,600 vs $277,200)
Rent averages $559/mo less ($798 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.1%)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Hemet, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Smith
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.1%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$898
$50,799 vs $49,901/yr
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$122k less
$155,600 vs $277,200
Fort Smith
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Violent Crime
50% lower
424.8 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $277,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 89,651 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hemet leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 10 and Hemet wins 13. 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $277,200 median home), income ($50,799 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Hemet, CA are about 1,290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.