Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 21 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
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $228/mo less ($798 vs $1,026)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Montgomery
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Median income trails Montgomery by $3,367/yr
Montgomery, AL
Pros
29% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Households earn $3,367 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Median Income
$3,367
$54,166 vs $50,799/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
29% lower
594.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$14k less
$141,900 vs $155,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 21 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Montgomery wins 12. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $141,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Montgomery, AL are about 509 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.