Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 10% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio
$993
$634
+36% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$603
+42% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$863
+27% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,087
+33% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$168,100
+32% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$52,692
+10% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$39,560
+15% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
36.6 yr
+1.5 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
47.0%
53.0%
+6.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
25.3%
+1.8 pp in Dover, DE
Avg Commute
24.0 min
17.3 min
+6.7 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
844.7
+18% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,697.6
+40% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
61.7°F
+4.8°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
45.5 in
+0.6 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Dover, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
14.1
+27% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$27.86
+6% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / AR)
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.90%
+2.7 pp in DE

Dover vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Fort Smith?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Fort Smith?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Fort Smith?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).