Fort Smith

Public transport travels through the center of Downtown Fort Smith.
Thousands turned out Saturday morning for Van Buren Downtown Junk Fest.
Peacemaker festival is enjoyed by many people.
Downtown Fort Smith main street is Garrison Ave.
Riverpark is located in the heart of Downtown Fort Smith.

Fort Smith, AR Area Guide

Avg Rent

$681

Population

91,854

Renter Mix

50% Rent

The “Wild West” never looked so friendly in Fort Smith

History Industry Shopping University Arkansas

Fort Smith, Arkansas combines historic appeal with contemporary living along the Arkansas River. As the third-most populous city in Arkansas, Fort Smith sits at the intersection of two major interstate highways, offering convenient access to surrounding regions. The rental market remains affordable, with average one-bedroom apartments renting for $651, showing a 1.2% increase over the past year. Two-bedroom units average $852, while three-bedroom homes typically lease for $1,290.

The Belle Grove Historic District spans 22 blocks of restored homes representing 130 years of architecture, while the Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves the city's frontier heritage. Residents enjoy the Arkansas River Trail system and Ben Geren Regional Park, which features golf courses and recreational facilities. The Fort Smith Symphony performs at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center, and the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum showcases rotating exhibitions throughout the year. The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine anchor the educational community. Notable areas include the historic downtown district, the developing Chaffee Crossing area, and the established neighborhoods along Rogers Avenue, offering everything from apartment communities to historic homes. Local events like the Peacemaker Music Festival and Steel Horse Rally add to the community's calendar of activities.

Explore the City

Peacemaker festival is enjoyed by many people.

Downtown Fort Smith main street is Garrison Ave.

Riverpark is located in the heart of Downtown Fort Smith.

Residents enjoy the Museum of History in Downtown Fort Smith.

The streets in Downtown Fort Smith are lined with trees.

Homes in Downtown Fort Smith have large trees in the yard.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$46,745

Average: $71,999

Education

19,534

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

42,682

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

38 Years

Largest Age Group

25-34 Years

Approximately 14% of Residents

Under 20

25%

Over 65

17%

Housing Distribution

In Fort Smith, there are roughly the same number of renters and homeowners.

Renters
50%
Non-Renters
50%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
17%
Other Education
83%

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Fort Smith, AR is $598 for a studio, $681 for one bedroom, $876 for two bedrooms, and $1,333 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Fort Smith has increased by 2.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$681/month
674 Sq Ft
House
$1,456/month
1,233 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,365/month
1,100 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Fort Smith, AR

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

50 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

90 / 100

Somewhat Bikeable

Bikeability

30 / 100

Schools

John P. Woods Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

480 Students

Elmer H. Cook Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

500 Students

Euper Lane Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

340 Students

Cavanaugh Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

260 Students

Fairview Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

577 Students

L. A. Chaffin Jr. High School

Public

Grades 6-8

774 Students

Ramsey Junior High School

Public

Grades 6-8

768 Students

Dora Kimmons Jr. High School

Public

Grades 6-8

724 Students

William O. Darby Jr. High School

Public

Grades 6-8

714 Students

Southside High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,052 Students

Northside High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,118 Students

Furture School Of Fort Smith

Public

Grades 9-12

156 Students

Premier High School of Fort Smith

Public

Grades 9-12

77 Students

Westark Technical Center

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
  • Fort Smith National Historic Site
  • Wild Things Farm

Airports

  • Fort Smith Regional

Top Apartments in Fort Smith

Houses for Rent in Fort Smith

Property Management Companies in Fort Smith, AR

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.