At a Glance
Median Income
$52,692
$33,991 per capita
Home Value
$168,100
Zillow: $193,755
Median Rent
$852/mo
25.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
980/100K
5,823/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
25.3%
83.5% high school+
Unemployment
4.1%
13.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.4%
17.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
63°F
298 sunny days/yr
How Fort Smith Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Fort Smith's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Fort Smith a Good Place to Live?
B
3.1 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Fort Smith residents earn a median household income of $52,692 , which is 30% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,991. The unemployment rate stands at 4.1% (14% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,751 business establishments, including 302 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Fort Smith is $168,100 , 40% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $193,755. Median rent is $852/month, with 25.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 86.9 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1976.
Safety & Crime
Fort Smith reports 980 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 158% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 5,823/100K. The murder rate is 4.5/100K.
Education
25.3% of adults in Fort Smith hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(25% below the national average).
83.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Fort Smith has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. The area gets 298 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 49.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population89,496
Median Age36.6 yrs
Density1,394/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.2%
Economy
B
Median Income$52,692
Per Capita$33,991
Unemployment4.1%
Poverty13.2%
County GDP$9,255M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,061
Housing
A+
Home Value$168,100
Rent$852
Ownership53.0%
Zillow$193,755
Housing Units39,945
Rent Burden25.7%
Crime
F
Violent980/100K
Property5,823/100K
Murder4.5/100K
Assault763/100K
Burglary922/100K
Health
Obesity37.4%
Diabetes12.6%
Smoking17.7%
Heart Disease6.8%
Premature Death11,659/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Sunny Days298/yr
Rain49.9 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation476 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+25.3%
High School+83.5%
Graduate+9.4%
School Score5.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 68% / D 30%
Commute17 min
Broadband82.9%
Internet Speed154 Mbps
EV Stations6
Libraries7
Did You Know?
Fort Smith was founded in 1817.
The median home in Fort Smith was built in 1976.
The nearest airport is Fort Smith Regional (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.504 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
21.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 154 Mbps.
There are 302 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 19 fatal vehicle crashes.
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