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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Bentonville, AR vs Fort Smith, AR

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Bentonville spends 3.1% more per capita than Fort Smith ($431/person difference). Bentonville, AR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 73/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Bentonville, AR
Pop. 54,513
B
73/100
Budget Balance41
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency86
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Fort Smith, AR
Pop. 89,315
B
69/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency89
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bentonville
Fort Smith
Total Spending
$787.5M
$1.3B
Spending / Capita
$14,446
$14,015
Total Revenue
$884.3M
$2.3B
Revenue / Capita
$16,221
$25,787
Total Debt
$13.4M
$89.3M
Debt / Capita
$246
$1,000
Population
54,513
89,315
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Bentonville$226
Fort Smith$295
Parks & Recreation
Bentonville$1,751
Fort Smith$549
Health
Bentonville$352
Fort Smith$375

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BentonvilleFort Smith
Property Tax
$10
$0
Sales Tax
$752
$143
Income Tax
$1,252
$2,263
Intergovernmental
$2,248
$40
Charges & Fees
$2,597
$3,270
Other
$3,321
$3,396

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BentonvilleFort Smith
Fire Protection
$226
$295
Public Welfare
$890
$788
Health
$352
$375
Hospitals
$0
$185
Parks & Recreation
$1,751
$549
Housing
$2,628
$2,224
Sewerage
$177
$0
Utilities
$3,488
$4,214
Interest on Debt
$0
$291
Other
$4,935
$5,094
B
Bentonville, AR
Fiscal Health Score: 73/100
Good fiscal health
B
Fort Smith, AR
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health

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