Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan 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
West Jordan
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($155,600 vs $412,100)
Rent averages $691/mo less ($798 vs $1,489)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than West Jordan
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 40°F
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $48,203/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 4.2%)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $48,203 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Smith
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 98.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$257k less
$155,600 vs $412,100
West Jordan
Median Income
$48,203
$99,002 vs $50,799/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
65% lower
294.2 vs 842.4 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 93.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 11 and West Jordan 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $412,100 median home), income ($50,799 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and West Jordan, UT are about 1,024 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.