Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Modesto
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($155,600 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $699/mo less ($798 vs $1,497)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $22,576/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
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,576 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$226k less
$155,600 vs $381,800
Fort Smith
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$22,576
$73,375 vs $50,799/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
22% lower
655.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 10 and Modesto wins 13. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $381,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Modesto, CA are about 1,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.