Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo 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
Provo
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($155,600 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $291/mo less ($798 vs $1,089)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Provo by $7,144/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
75% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,144 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$236k less
$155,600 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$7,144
$57,943 vs $50,799/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
75% lower
206.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $391,500 median home), income ($50,799 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Provo, UT are about 1,000 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.