Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Fort Smith leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,315
Toledo
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
19% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $5,394 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
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
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($98,800 vs $155,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Smith by $5,394/yr
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$5,394
$50,799 vs $45,405/yr
Fort Smith
Violent Crime
19% lower
842.4 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Fort Smith
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Median Home Value
$57k less
$98,800 vs $155,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $854 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 17 and Toledo wins 6. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $98,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Toledo, OH are about 728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.