Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Inglewood
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $534k less ($155,600 vs $689,700)
Rent averages $868/mo less ($798 vs $1,666)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Inglewood by $16,764/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Inglewood, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $16,764 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$534k less
$155,600 vs $689,700
Fort Smith
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 77.2°F
Inglewood
Median Income
$16,764
$67,563 vs $50,799/yr
Inglewood
Violent Crime
20% lower
674.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Inglewood, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,666⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $67,563 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 106,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 13 and Inglewood wins 10. 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $689,700 median home), income ($50,799 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Inglewood, CA are about 1,363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.