Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights 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
Sterling Heights
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($155,600 vs $243,400)
Rent averages $417/mo less ($798 vs $1,215)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $24,582/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
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
73% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $24,582 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$88k less
$155,600 vs $243,400
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$24,582
$75,381 vs $50,799/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
73% lower
229.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 50 ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 133,744 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 9 and Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $243,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Sterling Heights, MI are about 787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.