Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $824/mo less ($798 vs $1,622)
Homes cost $156k less ($155,600 vs $311,100)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $60,324/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 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,324 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
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
$156k less
$155,600 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$60,324
$111,123 vs $50,799/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
89% lower
95.9 vs 842.4 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Pearland, 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 | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Pearland wins 14. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $311,100 median home), income ($50,799 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Pearland, TX are about 404 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.