Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 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
Pasadena
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $361/mo less ($798 vs $1,159)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (6.1%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $16k less ($155,600 vs $171,600)
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $13,899/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, TX
Pros
33% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $13,899 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Smith
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$16k less
$155,600 vs $171,600
Fort Smith
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$13,899
$64,698 vs $50,799/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
33% lower
566.1 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $171,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $171,600 median home), income ($50,799 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Pasadena, TX are about 396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.