The Town FilesFort Smith, Arkansas
City in Sebastian County · population 89,142 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,100
- Household income
- $54,816
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 56
- Median age
- 36.5
Fort Smith is a city of 89,142 people in Sebastian County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $178,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 97% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Arkansas towns.
How Fort Smith ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fort Smith is worth $178,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $54,816, which is more affordable than 29% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $884 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Smith | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $884 | $792 |
| Median household income | $54,816 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Fort Smith
| People | Fort Smith | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Fort Smith
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.9 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Smith since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 26, 1976 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 212 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 156 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Sebastian County since 1996
Sebastian County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Sebastian County
Sebastian County had 67,665 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,173 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Fort Smith itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Fort Smith
29 public schools with 13,964 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,253 | 12.2 |
| SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,970 | 10.3 |
| RAMSEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 808 | 15.2 |
| DORA KIMMONS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 800 | 16.7 |
| WILLIAM O. DARBY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 720 | 14.7 |
| L. A. CHAFFIN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 691 | 13.3 |
| JOHN P. WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 505 | 21.0 |
| SUNNYMEDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 503 | 18.6 |
| ELMER H. COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 494 | 19.8 |
| FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 491 | 18.9 |
| HARRY C. MORRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 418 | 19.9 |
| SUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 416 | 14.9 |
Towns near Fort Smith
- Barling, AR5.5 mi · 4,782 people · home $140,000
- Van Buren, AR7.1 mi · 23,218 people · home $181,500
- Pocola, OK8.7 mi · 4,255 people · home $151,100
- Roland, OK8.9 mi · 3,316 people · home $139,800
- Greenwood, AR12.1 mi · 9,516 people · home $182,900
- Alma, AR13.3 mi · 5,825 people · home $233,600
- Muldrow, OK13.3 mi · 3,272 people · home $114,300
- Charleston, AR18.6 mi · 2,588 people · home $156,300
Fort Smith questions
Is Fort Smith, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Smith scores better for retirees than 16% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 3%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Fort Smith?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Smith is valued at $178,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,816, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $884 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Smith?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.9 inches of snow.
Does Fort Smith get tornadoes?
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Smith since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 26, 1976. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)