Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $355/mo less ($798 vs $1,153)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $16k less ($155,600 vs $171,800)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pittsburgh
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $9,388/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,388 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$16k less
$155,600 vs $171,800
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$9,388
$60,187 vs $50,799/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
49% lower
427.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $171,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ 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 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Pittsburgh wins 12. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $171,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Pittsburgh, PA are about 859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.