Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
50% less violent crime than Little Rock
Homes cost $50k less ($155,600 vs $205,800)
Rent averages $208/mo less ($798 vs $1,006)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Little Rock
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Little Rock by $7,898/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,898 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 89.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
50% lower
842.4 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$50k less
$155,600 vs $205,800
Little Rock
Median Income
$7,898
$58,697 vs $50,799/yr
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 89.1 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,006 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $58,697 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 14 and Little Rock wins 9. 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $205,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Little Rock, AR are about 122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.