Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
The Woodlands
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $301k less ($155,600 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $925/mo less ($798 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $91,585/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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $91,585 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$301k less
$155,600 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$91,585
$142,384 vs $50,799/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
72% lower
235.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 7 and The Woodlands wins 16. 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $456,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and The Woodlands, TX are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.