Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Lewisville, TX
🏆 Lewisville leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Lewisville
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,006 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
125,028 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($155,600 vs $328,300)
Rent averages $657/mo less ($798 vs $1,455)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lewisville
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Lewisville by $31,207/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%)
Lewisville, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $31,207 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (187.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,300
Higher rents — median is $1,455/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$173k less
$155,600 vs $328,300
Lewisville
Median Income
$31,207
$82,006 vs $50,799/yr
Lewisville
Violent Crime
78% lower
187.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Lewisville
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Lewisville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $328,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,455⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $82,006 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 13.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 72 ✓ 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 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | LEWISVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 55.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 125,028 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 45.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Lewisville's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lewisville leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 8 and Lewisville wins 15. 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 Lewisville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $328,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $82,006), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Lewisville, TX are about 218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.