Montgomery receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Montgomery
Fort Smith
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 36%
vs47 · Bottom 32%
Growth
57 · Top 39%
vs48 · Bottom 48%
Climate
71 · Top 36%
vs63 · Bottom 39%
Physical resilience
51 · Bottom 44%
vs47 · Bottom 38%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 48%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
97 · Top 12%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 28%
vs38 · Bottom 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Montgomery | Fort Smith | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 386,024 | 229,899 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,010 | $58,468 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,896 | $32,511 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 142/sq mi | 128/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $191,900 | $171,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,095 | $866 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.4% | 66.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.1% | 1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 21.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,100 | 600 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.8 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 36.5% | -17.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.2" | 47.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 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
Montgomery
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
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.
Montgomery
65
Your Score
63
Area Score
Fort Smith
63
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Montgomery, AL Metro Area · Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology