Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Naperville
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $327k less ($155,600 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $989/mo less ($798 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $92,955/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 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $92,955 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$327k less
$155,600 vs $482,600
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$92,955
$143,754 vs $50,799/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
90% lower
83.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 8 and Naperville wins 15. 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 Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($50,799 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Naperville, IL are about 555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.