Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($155,600 vs $228,300)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($798 vs $980)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Households earn $3,542 more per year on average
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
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
34% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 6.1%)
Median income trails Fort Smith by $3,542/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Income
$3,542
$50,799 vs $47,257/yr
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$73k less
$155,600 vs $228,300
Fort Smith
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
34% lower
553.4 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 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) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 14 and Tuscaloosa wins 9. 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $228,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.