Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland 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
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($155,600 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $602/mo less ($798 vs $1,400)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Midland
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $39,649/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 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,649 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$125k less
$155,600 vs $280,700
Midland
Median Income
$39,649
$90,448 vs $50,799/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
57% lower
364.9 vs 842.4 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $280,700 median home), income ($50,799 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Midland, TX are about 501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.