Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo 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
Laredo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $170/mo less ($798 vs $968)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Laredo by $10,129/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
57% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $10,129 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 87.8 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$10,129
$60,928 vs $50,799/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
57% lower
365.8 vs 842.4 per 100k
Laredo
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 87.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $968 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Laredo 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 Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Laredo, TX are about 617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.