Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Fort Smith?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Fort Smith?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Concord vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 37% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$876

$634

+28% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$603

+47% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$863

+41% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,087

+39% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$168,100

+48% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$52,692

+37% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$39,560

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

36.6 yr

+4.1 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

53.0%

+4.4 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

25.3%

+14.8 pp in Concord, NH

Avg Commute

23.2 min

17.3 min

+5.9 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

844.7

+367% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

1,251.5

3,697.6

+195% in Fort Smith, AR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

61.7°F

+15.3°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

45.5 in

+4.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Concord, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

14.1

+48% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$27.86

+29% in Fort Smith, AR

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / AR)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.90%

+3.9 pp in AR

Concord vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Fort Smith?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).