Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Tracy
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $462k less ($155,600 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1364/mo less ($798 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 27 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $60,918/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
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,918 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fort Smith
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$462k less
$155,600 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$60,918
$111,717 vs $50,799/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
64% lower
301.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 94,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 10 and Tracy wins 13. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $617,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Tracy, CA are about 1,507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.