Fort Smith, AR vs Fayetteville, AR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Fort Smith, AR and Fayetteville, AR spend within 12.1% of each other per resident — $14,015 versus $12,502 — 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 Fayetteville, AR — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Fayetteville, AR carries the lighter load at $925 per resident versus $1,000 for Fort Smith, AR. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Fort Smith, AR leads with parks and recreation at $549 per resident, while Fayetteville, AR leads with health at $800.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Fort Smith, AR at 13% of total revenue, whereas Fayetteville, AR relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 59%.
Summary
Fort Smith spends 12.1% more per capita than Fayetteville ($1,513/person difference). Fort Smith, AR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $8 |
| Sales Tax | $143 | $293 |
| Income Tax | $2,263 | $1,543 |
| Intergovernmental | $40 | $7,947 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,270 | $2,512 |
| Other | $3,396 | $3,271 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $295 | $423 |
| Education | $0 | $32 |
| Public Welfare | $788 | $719 |
| Health | $375 | $800 |
| Hospitals | $185 | $109 |
| Parks & Recreation | $549 | $599 |
| Housing | $2,224 | $2,095 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $156 |
| Utilities | $4,214 | $3,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $291 | $0 |
| Other | $5,094 | $3,991 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.