Anaheim CA vs Fort Smith AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Anaheim, CA

California · Population: 344,553

  • Median HH Income$90,583
  • Median Home Price$952,227
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+28.7%

Fort Smith, AR

Arkansas · Population: 89,496

  • Median HH Income$52,692
  • Median Home Price$195,664
  • Unemployment6.7%
  • Bachelor's+25.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Anaheim
344,553
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
89,496
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Anaheim
N/A
Fort Smith
N/A
Median Age
Anaheim
35.9
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
36.6
Foreign Born
Anaheim
35.2%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
11.7%
White
Anaheim
41.2%
Fort Smith
61.2%
Fort Smith +
Black
Anaheim
2.5%
Fort Smith
7.7%
Fort Smith +
Asian
Anaheim
18.6%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
5.7%
Hispanic
Anaheim
52.5%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
20.0%
Spanish at Home
Anaheim
N/A
Fort Smith
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Anaheim
$90,583
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
$52,692
Per Capita Income
Anaheim
$36,541
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
$33,991
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Anaheim
$77,230
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
$53,714
Unemployment Rate
Anaheim
5.5%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
6.7%
Poverty Rate
Anaheim
12.5%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
18.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Anaheim
28.7%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
25.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Anaheim
$952,227
Fort Smith
$195,664
Fort Smith +
Homeownership Rate
Anaheim
45.9%
Fort Smith
53.0%
Fort Smith +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Anaheim
503
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
660
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Anaheim
2388
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
2507

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
26.8%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
37.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
12.2%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
13.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Anaheim
18.0%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
19.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
14.7%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
15.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
15.4%
Fort Smith
13.5%
Fort Smith +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
11.0%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
17.2%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Anaheim
67.1°F
Fort Smith
61.7°F
Fort Smith +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Anaheim
13.4 in
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
45.5 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Anaheim
7.9 µg/m³
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
9.5 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Anaheim
75.0%
Anaheim +
Fort Smith
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Anaheim
30.6 min
Fort Smith
18.7 min
Fort Smith +

Which City is Right for You?

Anaheim leads in median household income at $90,583, while fort Smith offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $195,664. On public safety, Anaheim is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Fort Smith. Anaheim has a lower unemployment rate at 5.5%, and Anaheim has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Anaheim scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Anaheim & Fort Smith