Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 San Leandro 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
San Leandro
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $617k less ($155,600 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $1199/mo less ($798 vs $1,997)
33% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
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 San Leandro by $46,342/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%)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,342 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Cost of living runs 33% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
33% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$617k less
$155,600 vs $772,700
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
22.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$46,342
$97,141 vs $50,799/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
35% lower
548.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 84.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 89,723 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 33% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Leandro leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and San Leandro 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $772,700 median home), income ($50,799 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and San Leandro, CA are about 1,546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.