Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
South Bend
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
13% less violent crime than South Bend
Rent averages $137/mo less ($798 vs $935)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than South Bend
Cons
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
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $42k less ($113,800 vs $155,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$1,743
$50,799 vs $49,056/yr
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
13% lower
842.4 vs 965.0 per 100k
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Median Home Value
$42k less
$113,800 vs $155,600
South Bend
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $935 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 10 and South Bend wins 13. 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $113,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and South Bend, IN are about 618 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.