Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($155,600 vs $247,300)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($798 vs $1,038)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lawrence
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawrence by $9,035/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.2%)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
45% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,035 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$92k less
$155,600 vs $247,300
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.6°F
Lawrence
Median Income
$9,035
$59,834 vs $50,799/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
45% lower
461.5 vs 842.4 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 95,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Lawrence wins 11. 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 Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $247,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Lawrence, KS are about 254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.