Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Roanoke
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$51,523 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $119/mo less ($798 vs $917)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Roanoke
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
Roanoke, VA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Median Income
$724
$51,523 vs $50,799/yr
Roanoke
Violent Crime
26% lower
620.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $162,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $917 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $51,523 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 99,213 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 10 and Roanoke wins 13. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $162,000 median home), income ($50,799 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Roanoke, VA are about 813 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.