Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Richardson
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($155,600 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $927/mo less ($798 vs $1,725)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $43,563/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 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $43,563 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$224k less
$155,600 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$43,563
$94,362 vs $50,799/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
83% lower
146.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 7 and Richardson wins 16. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $379,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Richardson, TX are about 212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.