CityCompare

Fort Smith AR vs West Palm Beach FL — 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%

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fort Smith
89,496
West Palm Beach
119,508
West Palm Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Smith
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
Fort Smith
36.6
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
40.2
Foreign Born
Fort Smith
11.7%
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
White
Fort Smith
61.2%
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Black
Fort Smith
7.7%
West Palm Beach
31.5%
West Palm Beach +
Asian
Fort Smith
5.7%
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
2.5%
Hispanic
Fort Smith
20.0%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
Fort Smith
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fort Smith
$52,692
West Palm Beach
$69,261
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Income
Fort Smith
$33,991
West Palm Beach
$44,508
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Smith
$53,714
West Palm Beach
$65,328
West Palm Beach +
Unemployment Rate
Fort Smith
6.7%
West Palm Beach
5.4%
West Palm Beach +
Poverty Rate
Fort Smith
18.3%
West Palm Beach
14.8%
West Palm Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Smith
25.3%
West Palm Beach
37.6%
West Palm Beach +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Smith
$195,664
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Homeownership Rate
Fort Smith
53.0%
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
50.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Smith
660
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Smith
2507
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Smith
37.0%
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Smith
13.8%
West Palm Beach
13.7%
West Palm Beach +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Smith
19.7%
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Smith
15.3%
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Smith
13.5%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Smith
17.2%
West Palm Beach
13.0%
West Palm Beach +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Smith
61.7°F
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Smith
45.5 in
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
62.3 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Smith
18.7 min
Fort Smith +
West Palm Beach
25.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

West Palm Beach leads in median household income at $69,261, while fort Smith offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $195,664. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Fort Smith. West Palm Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, and West Palm Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, West Palm Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.1%.

Compare More Cities

Fort Smith, AR vs New York, NYFort Smith, AR vs Los Angeles, CAChicago, IL vs Fort Smith, ARFort Smith, AR vs Houston, TXFort Smith, AR vs Phoenix, AZFort Smith, AR vs Philadelphia, PA

About Fort Smith & West Palm Beach

View Fort Smith AR Profile →View West Palm Beach FL Profile →