Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Smith, AR
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Smith
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,799
Violent Crime Index
222⚠ High
Population
89,315
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Smith, AR
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($155,600 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($798 vs $1,014)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.1%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 40°F
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 Yakima by $4,935/yr
Yakima, WA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Fort Smith
Households earn $4,935 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fort Smith
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Smith
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.1 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Smith
Median Home Value
$88k less
$155,600 vs $243,300
Fort Smith
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Fort Smith
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Median Income
$4,935
$55,734 vs $50,799/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
35% lower
544.3 vs 842.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Smith, AR | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $798 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,799 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 17.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 222⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.1% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.9" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,315 | 96,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.4% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Smith's cost of living index is 85.1 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Smith is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Smith leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Smith wins 14 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($50,799 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Smith, AR and Yakima, WA are about 1,560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.