Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta 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
Murrieta
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $412k less ($155,600 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $1352/mo less ($798 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $56,126/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
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,126 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 29.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$412k less
$155,600 vs $567,700
Fort Smith
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$56,126
$106,925 vs $50,799/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
78% lower
183.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 45 ✓ 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 | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 10 and Murrieta 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 Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $567,700 median home), income ($50,799 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Murrieta, CA are about 1,303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.