Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county 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
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ 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 $247,900)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($798 vs $1,065)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $15,288/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
69% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $15,288 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
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 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$92k less
$155,600 vs $247,900
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$15,288
$66,087 vs $50,799/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
69% lower
262.0 vs 842.4 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,065 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $247,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Fort Smith, AR vs Fayetteville, AR
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Fort Smith, AR vs Little Rock, AR
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Stockton, CA
Fort Smith, AR vs Waukegan, IL
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Henderson, NV
Fort Smith, AR vs Clifton, NJ
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Corpus Christi, TX