Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Lee's Summit
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($155,600 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $497/mo less ($798 vs $1,295)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lee's Summit
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $52,648/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 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $52,648 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
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 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$136k less
$155,600 vs $291,400
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.3°F
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$52,648
$103,447 vs $50,799/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
82% lower
149.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 101,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Lee's Summit wins 14. 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 Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $291,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Lee's Summit, MO are about 247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.