Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
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
Odessa
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $484/mo less ($798 vs $1,282)
Homes cost $38k less ($155,600 vs $193,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Odessa
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $20,494/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
Odessa, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $20,494 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$38k less
$155,600 vs $193,500
Odessa
Median Income
$20,494
$71,293 vs $50,799/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
62% lower
316.3 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 113,353 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Fort Smith wins 10 and Odessa wins 10. 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $193,500 median home), income ($50,799 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Odessa, TX are about 517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.