Davenport IA 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)
Davenport, IA
Iowa · Population: 101,083
- Median HH Income$64,497
- Median Home Price$191,117
- Unemployment4.8%
- Bachelor's+30.0%
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
Davenport
101,083
Davenport +
Fort Smith
89,496
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Davenport
N/A
Fort Smith
N/A
Median Age
Davenport
37.8
Fort Smith
36.6
Fort Smith +
Foreign Born
Davenport
4.6%
Fort Smith
11.7%
Fort Smith +
White
Davenport
75.9%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
61.2%
Black
Davenport
11.2%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
7.7%
Asian
Davenport
1.9%
Fort Smith
5.7%
Fort Smith +
Hispanic
Davenport
9.1%
Fort Smith
20.0%
Fort Smith +
Spanish at Home
Davenport
N/A
Fort Smith
N/A
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 101,083 | 89,496 | Davenport + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 36.6 | Fort Smith + |
| Foreign Born | 4.6% | 11.7% | Fort Smith + |
| White | 75.9% | 61.2% | Davenport + |
| Black | 11.2% | 7.7% | Davenport + |
| Asian | 1.9% | 5.7% | Fort Smith + |
| Hispanic | 9.1% | 20.0% | Fort Smith + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Davenport
$64,497
Davenport +
Fort Smith
$52,692
Per Capita Income
Davenport
$36,583
Davenport +
Fort Smith
$33,991
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Davenport
$61,226
Davenport +
Fort Smith
$53,714
Unemployment Rate
Davenport
4.8%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
6.7%
Poverty Rate
Davenport
15.6%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
18.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Davenport
30.0%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
25.3%
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $64,497 | $52,692 | Davenport + |
| Per Capita Income | $36,583 | $33,991 | Davenport + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $61,226 | $53,714 | Davenport + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 6.7% | Davenport + |
| Poverty Rate | 15.6% | 18.3% | Davenport + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 30.0% | 25.3% | Davenport + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Davenport
$191,117
Davenport +
Fort Smith
$195,664
Homeownership Rate
Davenport
63.0%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
53.0%
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $191,117 | $195,664 | Davenport + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 53.0% | Davenport + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Davenport
296
Davenport +
Fort Smith
660
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Davenport
1452
Davenport +
Fort Smith
2507
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 296 | 660 | Davenport + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1452 | 2507 | Davenport + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Davenport
42.6%
Fort Smith
37.0%
Fort Smith +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Davenport
11.7%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
13.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Davenport
17.8%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
19.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Davenport
8.2%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
15.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Davenport
21.1%
Fort Smith
13.5%
Fort Smith +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Davenport
16.2%
Davenport +
Fort Smith
17.2%
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 42.6% | 37.0% | Fort Smith + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.7% | 13.8% | Davenport + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.8% | 19.7% | Davenport + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 8.2% | 15.3% | Davenport + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 21.1% | 13.5% | Fort Smith + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.2% | 17.2% | Davenport + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Davenport
49.3°F
Davenport +
Fort Smith
61.7°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Davenport
36.0 in
Davenport +
Fort Smith
45.5 in
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 49.3°F | 61.7°F | Davenport + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 36.0 in | 45.5 in | Davenport + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Davenport
10.2 µg/m³
Fort Smith
9.5 µg/m³
Fort Smith +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Davenport
55.0%
Fort Smith
55.0%
Tie
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 10.2 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | Fort Smith + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 55.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Davenport
20.4 min
Fort Smith
18.7 min
Fort Smith +
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Fort Smith, AR | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 20.4 min | 18.7 min | Fort Smith + |
Which City is Right for You?
Davenport leads in median household income at $64,497, while davenport offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $191,117. On public safety, Davenport is safer with a violent crime rate of 296 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Fort Smith. Davenport has a lower unemployment rate at 4.8%, and Fort Smith has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Smith scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.0%.
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