Bloomington MN 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)
Bloomington, MN
Minnesota · Population: 71,261
- Median HH Income$103,382
- Median Home Price$366,438
- Unemployment4.5%
- Bachelor's+36.1%
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
Bloomington
71,261
Fort Smith
89,496
Fort Smith +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bloomington
N/A
Fort Smith
N/A
Median Age
Bloomington
37.3
Fort Smith
36.6
Fort Smith +
Foreign Born
Bloomington
14.1%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
11.7%
White
Bloomington
72.7%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
61.2%
Black
Bloomington
8.6%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
7.7%
Asian
Bloomington
9.5%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
5.7%
Hispanic
Bloomington
5.1%
Fort Smith
20.0%
Fort Smith +
Spanish at Home
Bloomington
N/A
Fort Smith
N/A
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,261 | 89,496 | Fort Smith + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 36.6 | Fort Smith + |
| Foreign Born | 14.1% | 11.7% | Bloomington + |
| White | 72.7% | 61.2% | Bloomington + |
| Black | 8.6% | 7.7% | Bloomington + |
| Asian | 9.5% | 5.7% | Bloomington + |
| Hispanic | 5.1% | 20.0% | Fort Smith + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Bloomington
$103,382
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
$52,692
Per Capita Income
Bloomington
$44,640
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
$33,991
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bloomington
$69,467
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
$53,714
Unemployment Rate
Bloomington
4.5%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
6.7%
Poverty Rate
Bloomington
6.5%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
18.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bloomington
36.1%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
25.3%
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $103,382 | $52,692 | Bloomington + |
| Per Capita Income | $44,640 | $33,991 | Bloomington + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $69,467 | $53,714 | Bloomington + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 6.7% | Bloomington + |
| Poverty Rate | 6.5% | 18.3% | Bloomington + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.1% | 25.3% | Bloomington + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bloomington
$366,438
Fort Smith
$195,664
Fort Smith +
Homeownership Rate
Bloomington
85.0%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
53.0%
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $366,438 | $195,664 | Fort Smith + |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.0% | 53.0% | Bloomington + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bloomington
284
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
660
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bloomington
1992
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
2507
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 284 | 660 | Bloomington + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1992 | 2507 | Bloomington + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
26.8%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
37.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
8.9%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
13.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bloomington
14.2%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
19.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
8.5%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
15.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
17.2%
Fort Smith
13.5%
Fort Smith +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
11.4%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
17.2%
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 26.8% | 37.0% | Bloomington + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 8.9% | 13.8% | Bloomington + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 14.2% | 19.7% | Bloomington + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 8.5% | 15.3% | Bloomington + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 17.2% | 13.5% | Fort Smith + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.4% | 17.2% | Bloomington + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bloomington
N/A
Fort Smith
61.7°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bloomington
N/A
Fort Smith
45.5 in
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 61.7°F | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 45.5 in | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bloomington
8.1 µg/m³
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
9.5 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bloomington
75.0%
Bloomington +
Fort Smith
55.0%
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.1 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | Bloomington + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Bloomington + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bloomington
27.0 min
Fort Smith
18.7 min
Fort Smith +
| Metric | Bloomington, MN | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 27.0 min | 18.7 min | Fort Smith + |
Which City is Right for You?
Bloomington leads in median household income at $103,382, while fort Smith offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $195,664. On public safety, Bloomington is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Fort Smith. Bloomington has a lower unemployment rate at 4.5%, and Bloomington has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bloomington scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.8%.
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