Benton, AR vs Fort Smith, AR

Fort Smith is moderately more affordable than Benton, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Benton scores 78 compared to 69 for Fort Smith, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Benton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Benton is $1,003/month compared to $852/month in Fort Smith — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Smith is more affordable at $168,100 median vs $199,400.

Median household income in Benton is $69,638 compared to $52,692 in Fort Smith (+32.2%). While Benton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Benton spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 19.4% in Fort Smith.