Conway, AR vs Fort Smith, AR

Fort Smith, AR and Conway, AR spend within 2.5% of each other per resident — $14,015 versus $13,672 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Fort Smith, AR holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Conway, AR — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Conway, AR carries the lighter load at $691 per resident versus $1,000 for Fort Smith, AR. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Conway, AR leads with education at $3,719 per resident, while Fort Smith, AR leads with parks and recreation at $549.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Conway, AR at 48% of total revenue, whereas Fort Smith, AR relies most on other revenue at 13%.