Jackson and Fort Smith receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Jackson
Fort Smith
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 39%
vs47 · Bottom 32%
Growth
56 · Top 40%
vs48 · Bottom 48%
Climate
73 · Top 29%
vs63 · Bottom 39%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs47 · Bottom 38%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 38%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
95 · Top 17%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 28%
vs38 · Bottom 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Jackson | Fort Smith | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 611,324 | 229,899 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,644 | $58,468 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,708 | $32,511 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 102/sq mi | 128/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $200,500 | $171,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,072 | $866 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.5% | 66.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | 1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 21.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,979 | 600 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 86.3% | -17.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.3" | 47.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.4 | 38.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Jackson
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Fort Smith
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, wildfire.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Jackson
64
Your Score
61
Area Score
Fort Smith
63
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Jackson, MS Metro Area · Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology