Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Fort Smith leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Reading
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $7,947 more per year on average
Rent averages $144/mo less ($798 vs $942)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
Cons
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
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($96,900 vs $155,600)
60% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Smith by $7,947/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$7,947
$50,799 vs $42,852/yr
Fort Smith
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 11.3% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Violent Crime
60% lower
337.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$59k less
$96,900 vs $155,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $942 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 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 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 94,601 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 17 and Reading wins 6. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $96,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Reading, PA are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.