Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy 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
Sandy
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($155,600 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $842/mo less ($798 vs $1,640)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $57,366/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 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $57,366 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$337k less
$155,600 vs $492,300
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.7°F
Sandy
Median Income
$57,366
$108,165 vs $50,799/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
71% lower
246.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 95,635 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Sandy 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 Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $492,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Sandy, UT are about 1,016 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.