Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa 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
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($155,600 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $624/mo less ($798 vs $1,422)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails Tampa by $16,003/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
47% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $16,003 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$178k less
$155,600 vs $333,200
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 91.0°F
Tampa
Median Income
$16,003
$66,802 vs $50,799/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
47% lower
444.6 vs 842.4 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $333,200 median home), income ($50,799 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Tampa, FL are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.