Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Fort Smith leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
Salt Lake City
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($155,600 vs $458,600)
Rent averages $456/mo less ($798 vs $1,254)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $21,558/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 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $21,558 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Smith
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
3% lower
842.4 vs 864.2 per 100k
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$303k less
$155,600 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$21,558
$72,357 vs $50,799/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 15 and Salt Lake City wins 8. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $458,600 median home), income ($50,799 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,024 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.