Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach 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
West Palm Beach
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($155,600 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $816/mo less ($798 vs $1,614)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (842.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $13,245/yr
Property crime (3684.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
32% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $13,245 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Fort Smith
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$169k less
$155,600 vs $324,800
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$13,245
$64,044 vs $50,799/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
32% lower
575.8 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 10 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $324,800 median home), income ($50,799 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.