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

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

Fort Smith, AR

Arkansas · Population: 89,496

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

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fort Smith

89,496

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fort Smith

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Fort Smith

36.6

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Fort Smith

11.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Fort Smith

61.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Fort Smith

7.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Fort Smith

5.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Fort Smith

20.0%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Fort Smith

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	89,496	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.6	N/A	-
Foreign Born	11.7%	N/A	-
White	61.2%	N/A	-
Black	7.7%	N/A	-
Asian	5.7%	N/A	-
Hispanic	20.0%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fort Smith

$52,692

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Fort Smith

$33,991

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fort Smith

$53,714

Jonesboro

$53,714

Tie

Unemployment Rate

Fort Smith

6.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Fort Smith

18.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Fort Smith

25.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$52,692	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$33,991	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$53,714	Tie
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	18.3%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	25.3%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fort Smith

$195,664

Fort Smith +

Jonesboro

$225,577

Homeownership Rate

Fort Smith

53.0%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$195,664	$225,577	Fort Smith +
Homeownership Rate	53.0%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Smith

660

Jonesboro

660

Tie

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Smith

2507

Jonesboro

2507

Tie

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	660	Tie
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2507	Tie

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Smith

37.0%

Fort Smith +

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Smith

13.8%

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fort Smith

19.7%

Fort Smith +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fort Smith

15.3%

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fort Smith

13.5%

Fort Smith +

Jonesboro

15.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fort Smith

17.2%

Jonesboro

15.7%

Jonesboro +

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	37.0%	39.2%	Fort Smith +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.8%	11.4%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	19.7%	20.5%	Fort Smith +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	15.3%	11.6%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	13.5%	15.1%	Fort Smith +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	17.2%	15.7%	Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Smith

61.7°F

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Smith

45.5 in

Fort Smith +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	61.7°F	59.2°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	45.5 in	48.2 in	Fort Smith +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fort Smith

9.5 µg/m³

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Tie

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fort Smith

55.0%

Jonesboro

55.0%

Tie

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Tie
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	55.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fort Smith

18.7 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Fort Smith, AR	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	18.7 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Fort Smith offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $195,664. On public safety, Jonesboro is safer with a violent crime rate of 660 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Fort Smith. Jonesboro 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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About Fort Smith & Jonesboro

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