Home › AR › Fort Smith, AR Cost of living in Fort Smith, AR Livability score 73 · cost-of-living index 85.3 (US = 100)
How Fort Smith compares Where Fort Smith falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 85 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 85 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $206k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $206k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $103 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $103 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.5% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.5% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.62% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.62% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 640 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 640 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.2 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.2 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 93° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 93° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30° Map of Fort Smith Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85.3 metro-area #2 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 93.1 metro-area #24 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $4.85 metro-area #2 of 200 Median household income $53,224 metro-area #195 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $34,249 metro-area #181 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 38.7 years metro-area #101 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 21.4% metro-area #189 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.4% metro-area #138 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 66.2% metro-area #104 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.23% metro-area #107 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) -12.6% metro-area #199 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $205,554 metro-area #14 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.9× metro-area #44 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +4.6% metro-area #25 of 200 Price per square foot $103 metro-area #12 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,021 metro-area #1 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,223 Median days on market 37 metro-area #175 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.2% state #111 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.47% state #186 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.90% Capital gains tax 3.90% state #73 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.62% metro-area #37 of 200 Median property tax paid $912 metro-area #8 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 72.8 years metro-area #191 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,000 state #4 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 11.7% metro-area #150 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 89 metro-area #40 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,500 state #11 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $30 state #1 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.02% of value (~$286/yr) state #143 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 22 min metro-area #31 of 200 Commute by driving alone 81.4% metro-area #189 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 23.8% metro-area #35 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 14.2¢/kWh state #16 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $127 state #16 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $62 state #11 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,800 state #149 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 81.4 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #34 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $750 state #90 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 44 metro-area #76 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 93% state #87 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,200 metro-area #82 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 69 metro-area #149 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 9 metro-area #179 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 93°F metro-area #174 of 200 Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200 Annual precipitation 49.0" metro-area #150 of 200 Annual snowfall 8.0" metro-area #103 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 60% metro-area #85 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 640 state #195 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,900 state #173 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Fort Smith Major public and private employers in the Fort Smith, AR area.
Employer Sector Jobs Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Healthcare Careers → OK Foods Manufacturing Search → ArcBest Corporation Other Careers → Sparks Health System Healthcare Search → Fort Smith School District Education Search → Weyerhauser Manufacturing Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Fort Smith Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $203,630 Pharmacists $128,640 Physician Assistants $123,860 Financial Managers $97,940 Software Developers $93,850 Lawyers $90,670 Physical Therapists $90,130 Human Resources Managers $85,830 Civil Engineers $81,270 Dental Hygienists $78,420 Construction Managers $78,220 Marketing Managers $76,850 Mechanical Engineers $68,710 Registered Nurses $67,760 General & Operations Managers $66,110 Accountants & Auditors $59,990 Elementary School Teachers $50,010 Electricians $48,840 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,730 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $45,860 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $43,360 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $42,620 Graphic Designers $38,790 Carpenters $36,810 Medical Assistants $33,440
Cities in the Fort Smith area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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