Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 20 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Tallahassee
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3
Median Household Income
$52,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($155,600 vs $256,400)
Rent averages $367/mo less ($798 vs $1,165)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tallahassee
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 95.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$101k less
$155,600 vs $256,400
Tallahassee
Median Income
$2,100
$52,899 vs $50,799/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 95.3 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $256,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,165 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $52,899 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 198,259 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 20 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Tallahassee wins 8. 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $256,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Tallahassee, FL are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.