Fort Smith, Arkansas
Among the top 19% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 60% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 46% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 7% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 81% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 11% of US places
- top 5% for commute time
- top 10% for cost of living
- bottom 1% for property crime
Fort Smith is a mid-size city in Arkansas with about 89,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, cost of living, and walkability. It rates lower on violent crime and property crime.
Official websitefortsmithar.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Moderate rain · Light snow
cold
cool
comfortable
warm
hot
warm
cool
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85%58%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.8 in3.0 in
muggy 91%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$51k29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 90% of US places
Home Value$156k47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$798better than 66% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 61% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.70%better than 72% of US places
Income Tax4.40%better than 65% of US places
Sales Tax9.45%better than 4% of US places
Estimated total tax burden9.65%better than 52% of US places
Unemployment6.1%better than 31% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)40°F71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)83°F90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation47.3 in68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall2.9 inbetter than 72% of US places
Sunny Days255 daysbetter than 73% of US places
Summer Humidity70°Fbetter than 15% of US places
Comfortable Days72 daysbetter than 26% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk67.2better than 48% of US places
Air Quality47 AQIbetter than 45% of US places
School Quality53.1better than 42% of US places
Violent Crime3397/100kbetter than 2% of US places
Property Crime4944/100kbetter than 1% of US places
Community
Population89,31599th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age36.428th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5791st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9849th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3762nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)59.4%23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)8.0%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)19.6%85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)5.7%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)7.3%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time17 minbetter than 95% of US places
Walkability8.1/20better than 74% of US places
Airport Distance104 mibetter than 35% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access81.5%better than 34% of US places
Amenities Nearby19.82better than 21% of US places
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 20% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Fort Smith an affordable place to live?
- Fort Smith is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 90% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Fort Smith?
- The median home value in Fort Smith is $156k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Fort Smith?
- Median household income in Fort Smith is $51k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Fort Smith?
- Median gross rent in Fort Smith is $798 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Fort Smith safe?
- Fort Smith is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 3397/100k (better than 2%). Property crime is 4944/100k.
- What is the weather like in Fort Smith?
- Fort Smith averages 83°F in July and 40°F in January, with 47.3 in of annual precipitation and about 255 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Fort Smith?
- Public-school quality in Fort Smith is about average, scoring better than 42% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Fort Smith?
- The average one-way commute in Fort Smith is 17 min.
Places near Fort Smith
Compare Fort Smith
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)