Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga 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
Rancho Cucamonga
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $502k less ($155,600 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1386/mo less ($798 vs $2,184)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $54,735/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
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,735 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$502k less
$155,600 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$54,735
$105,534 vs $50,799/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
65% lower
293.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $657,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.