Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 19 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Jackson
Mississippi
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.1%)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($798 vs $980)
Households earn $8,606 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Jackson
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
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($104,900 vs $155,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Smith by $8,606/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$8,606
$50,799 vs $42,193/yr
Fort Smith
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Median Home Value
$51k less
$104,900 vs $155,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.7 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 19 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Jackson wins 7. 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 Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $104,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Jackson, MS are about 318 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.