Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena 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
Pasadena
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $826k less ($155,600 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1302/mo less ($798 vs $2,100)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $47,019/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 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,019 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$826k less
$155,600 vs $981,600
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$47,019
$97,818 vs $50,799/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
43% lower
480.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 8 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $981,600 median home), income ($50,799 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Pasadena, CA are about 1,348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.