Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Rutland?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Rutland?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $780 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 4% higher in Rutland, VT. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$634

$893

+41% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$603

$856

+42% in Rutland, VT

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,097

+27% in Rutland, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,207

+11% in Rutland, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$176,400

+5% in Rutland, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$55,000

+4% in Rutland, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

48.5 yr

+11.9 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

53.0%

52.7%

+0.3 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

32.2%

+6.9 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

17.3 min

14.7 min

+2.6 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

487.8

+42% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

3,973.3

+7% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

61.7°F

44.6°F

+17.1°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

40.5 in

+5.0 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

24.4

+73% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$26.07

+6% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rutland, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / VT)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

8.75%

+4.8 pp in VT

Fort Smith vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Rutland?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Rutland?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).