Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Henderson, NV
🏆 Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Henderson
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($155,600 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $843/mo less ($798 vs $1,641)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Henderson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Henderson by $34,512/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
Henderson, NV
Pros
Households earn $34,512 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fort Smith
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$272k less
$155,600 vs $427,900
Fort Smith
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Henderson
Median Income
$34,512
$85,311 vs $50,799/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
68% lower
272.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Henderson
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Henderson, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $427,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,641⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $85,311 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 6.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 318,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 65.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 20.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Henderson's 103.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 8 and Henderson wins 15. 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 Henderson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $427,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $85,311), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Henderson, NV are about 1,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.