Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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 Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Rent averages $931/mo less ($798 vs $1,729)
Homes cost $148k less ($155,600 vs $304,000)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $37,667/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 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $37,667 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$148k less
$155,600 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$37,667
$88,466 vs $50,799/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
72% lower
235.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 101,207 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and San Tan Valley 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $304,000 median home), income ($50,799 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.