Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Santa Monica
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,168 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $1499k less ($155,600 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1429/mo less ($798 vs $2,227)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 9 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 Santa Monica by $55,998/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
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,998 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$1499k less
$155,600 vs $1,654,800
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
24.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$55,998
$106,797 vs $50,799/yr
Santa Monica
Violent Crime
8% lower
778.0 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 92,168 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Santa Monica wins 12. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,371 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.