Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Hesperia leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Hesperia
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($155,600 vs $337,600)
Rent averages $638/mo less ($798 vs $1,436)
Commutes run 26 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (6.1%)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Hesperia
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
Median income trails Hesperia by $16,899/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hesperia, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $16,899 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,600
Higher rents — median is $1,436/mo
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Smith
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 Home Value
$182k less
$155,600 vs $337,600
Fort Smith
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Median Income
$16,899
$67,698 vs $50,799/yr
Hesperia
Violent Crime
38% lower
519.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Hesperia, 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 | $337,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,436⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $67,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 68 ✓ 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 | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 99,878 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hesperia leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Hesperia wins 12. 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $337,600 median home), income ($50,799 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Hesperia, CA are about 1,299 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.