Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Oxnard
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($155,600 vs $587,200)
Rent averages $1109/mo less ($798 vs $1,907)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $39,610/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
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,610 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$432k less
$155,600 vs $587,200
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$39,610
$90,409 vs $50,799/yr
Oxnard
Violent Crime
29% lower
596.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 54.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Oxnard wins 11. 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 Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $587,200 median home), income ($50,799 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Oxnard, CA are about 1,408 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.