📊 Lifestyle Match
Visualizing the tradeoffs between Little Rock and Fort Smith
Head-to-Head Analysis
Little Rock vs Fort Smith
Detailed breakdown of cost of living, income potential, and lifestyle metrics.
📋 The Details
Line-by-line data comparison.
| Category / Metric | Little Rock | Fort Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Overview | ||
| Median Income | $59,762 | $54,009 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4% | 4% |
| Housing Market | ||
| Median Home Price | $248,750 | $218,000 |
| Price per SqFt | $139 | $127 |
| Monthly Rent (1BR) | $950 | $678 |
| Housing Cost Index | 67.3 | 50.8 |
| Cost of Living | ||
| Groceries Index | 92.1 | 92.1 |
| Gas Price (Gallon) | $3.40 | $3.40 |
| Safety & Lifestyle | ||
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 1234.0 | 567.0 |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 43% | 24% |
| Air Quality (AQI) | 40 | 34 |
AI Verdict: The Bottom Line
Both cities have a similar cost of living (within 5%).
You could earn significantly more in Little Rock (+11% median income).
Little Rock has a higher violent crime rate (118% higher).
Analysis based on current data snapshot. Individual results may vary.
Expert Verdict
AI-generated analysis based on current data.
Moving from Little Rock to Fort Smith: What You Need to Know
Deciding between Little Rock and Fort Smith? This data-driven analysis breaks down the key differences in cost of living, housing, and quality of life to help you make the right choice.
1. Cost of Living Analysis
Fort Smith is significantly 4.7% cheaper than Little Rock.
If you move to Fort Smith, your paycheck will go further. This is primarily driven by differences in housing and taxation.
2. Housing Costs
Housing is the biggest factor here. Fort Smith offers much more affordable housing options.
The housing cost index in Little Rock is 67.3, compared to 50.8 in Fort Smith.
3. Income Potential
The median household income in Little Rock is $59,762, while in Fort Smith it is $54,009.
Workers in Little Rock typically earn 10.7% more. Be sure to balance this against the cost of living.
4. Safety
Statistically, Fort Smith has a lower violent crime rate.
The Verdict
Fort Smith combines affordability with a strong quality of life score. It's an excellent choice for value seekers.
Real move decision
If this comparison is tied to a job offer, do these next
Fort Smith is the cheaper city, so a smaller headline offer may still work if housing, taxes, and monthly costs improve your real take-home pay.
Decode an offer in Fort Smith
Use Offer Decoder to test whether moving from Little Rock to Fort Smith actually improves your leftover cash after tax, rent, and benefits.
Build your counteroffer
Use the counteroffer guide when the package is close, but city costs or first-year move friction mean you still need more.
Set a walk-away number
Turn the salary gap and cost-of-living difference between Little Rock and Fort Smith into a defensible negotiation target.
Follow the relocation workflow
Use the full guide if this comparison is part of a real job move, not just casual browsing.
Planning a Move?
Use our AI-powered calculator to estimate your expenses from Little Rock to Fort Smith.