Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $32k less ($155,600 vs $187,400)
Rent averages $158/mo less ($798 vs $956)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Winston-Salem
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
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $3,617/yr
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
4% less violent crime than Fort Smith
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Households earn $3,617 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Smith
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$32k less
$155,600 vs $187,400
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$3,617
$54,416 vs $50,799/yr
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
4% lower
809.7 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 12 and Winston-Salem wins 11. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $187,400 median home), income ($50,799 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Winston-Salem, NC are about 792 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.