Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Simi Valley
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $549k less ($155,600 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1604/mo less ($798 vs $2,402)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 12 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 Simi Valley by $61,345/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 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,345 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Fort Smith
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$549k less
$155,600 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$61,345
$112,144 vs $50,799/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
85% lower
129.1 vs 842.4 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 7 and Simi Valley wins 16. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $704,200 median home), income ($50,799 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Simi Valley, CA are about 1,382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.