Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Fort Smith leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
Paterson
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($155,600 vs $314,100)
Rent averages $594/mo less ($798 vs $1,392)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (6.1%)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
14% less violent crime than Paterson
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
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
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
14% lower
842.4 vs 978.6 per 100k
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$159k less
$155,600 vs $314,100
Fort Smith
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.5% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Income
$1,293
$52,092 vs $50,799/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $52,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| 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 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 17 and Paterson wins 6. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $314,100 median home), income ($50,799 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Paterson, NJ are about 1,160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.