Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Orlando
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($155,600 vs $332,700)
Rent averages $711/mo less ($798 vs $1,509)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orlando by $15,493/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Households earn $15,493 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$177k less
$155,600 vs $332,700
Orlando
Median Income
$15,493
$66,292 vs $50,799/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 13 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $332,700 median home), income ($50,799 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Orlando, FL are about 905 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.