Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Miramar, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Fort Smith
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Miramar
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,812 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
135,158 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($155,600 vs $378,200)
Rent averages $1042/mo less ($798 vs $1,840)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Miramar
Commutes run 13 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 Miramar by $31,013/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 4.2%)
Miramar, FL
Pros
Households earn $31,013 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $378,200
Higher rents — median is $1,840/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fort Smith
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$223k less
$155,600 vs $378,200
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.8°F
Miramar
Median Income
$31,013
$81,812 vs $50,799/yr
Miramar
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Miramar, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $378,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,840⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $81,812 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 135,158 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 69.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Miramar's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Fort Smith wins 10 and Miramar wins 10. 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 Miramar or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $378,200 median home), income ($50,799 vs $81,812), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Miramar, FL are about 1,054 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.