Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 17 of 22 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
McKinney
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($155,600 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $942/mo less ($798 vs $1,740)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $62,487/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 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $62,487 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
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
$245k less
$155,600 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$62,487
$113,286 vs $50,799/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
86% lower
117.3 vs 842.4 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | McKinney, 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 | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 22 categories. Fort Smith wins 5 and McKinney wins 17. 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $400,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and McKinney, TX are about 198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.