Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua 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
Nashua
New Hampshire
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($155,600 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $799/mo less ($798 vs $1,597)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $37,967/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 5.1%)
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $37,967 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$189k less
$155,600 vs $344,900
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.7°F
Nashua
Median Income
$37,967
$88,766 vs $50,799/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
81% lower
160.5 vs 842.4 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 90,943 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 8 and Nashua 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 Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $344,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Nashua, NH are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.