Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane 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
Spokane
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($155,600 vs $286,900)
Rent averages $262/mo less ($798 vs $1,060)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Commutes run 4 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
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane by $12,517/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Spokane, WA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $12,517 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Smith
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$131k less
$155,600 vs $286,900
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Income
$12,517
$63,316 vs $50,799/yr
Spokane
Violent Crime
20% lower
674.9 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $286,900 median home), income ($50,799 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Spokane, WA are about 1,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.