Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($155,600 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $840/mo less ($798 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $35,960/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 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $35,960 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$228k less
$155,600 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$35,960
$86,759 vs $50,799/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
70% lower
254.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 6 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $383,600 median home), income ($50,799 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Peoria, AZ are about 1,025 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.