Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Hoover
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($155,600 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $554/mo less ($798 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Hoover
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $50,966/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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.9%)
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $50,966 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
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 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$211k less
$155,600 vs $366,200
Hoover
Median Income
$50,966
$101,765 vs $50,799/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
91% lower
78.0 vs 842.4 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.6 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 91,995 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 7 and Hoover wins 16. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $366,200 median home), income ($50,799 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Hoover, AL are about 452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.