Fort Smith, AR Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Fort Smith | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 84,808 | 3,059,436 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 1239.4 | 57.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.10% | 0.31% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.7 | 36.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 34,488 | 1,188,527 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Fort Smith grew by 2.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 85,454 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Fort Smith has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Fort Smith | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,707 | $58,772 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.47% | 4.71% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Fort Smith is about 14% lower than in Arkansas.
Housing
| Metric | Fort Smith | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $171,342 | $123,805 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $840 | $913 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.1% | 66.1% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Fort Smith is about 17.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $840 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Fort Smith spend about 31 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 130 hours, about 5.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Fort Smith | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 15.6 | 18.5 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 31.2 | 37.0 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 130 | 154 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,030 | $4,780 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 7.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 8,011 | 6,306 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,370 | 912 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Fort Smith is 16 minutes, shorter than the 19 minutes in Arkansas.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Fort Smith has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Fort Smith | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 22.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.41 | 2.48 | 2.54 |
Health
Fort Smith has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Fort Smith | Arkansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.0 | 75.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 22.6% | 22.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 23.0% | 23.3% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Fort Smith, Arkansas.
What is the population of Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The population of Fort Smith, Arkansas is 84,808, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The population density of Fort Smith, Arkansas is 1239.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The median household income in Fort Smith, Arkansas is $50,707, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The median home price in Fort Smith, Arkansas is $171,342, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The unemployment rate in Fort Smith, Arkansas is 7.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.