Metro area profile · Arkansas
Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area market data
How the Fort Smith metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 234,140
- +3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 90,992
- Median household income
- $58,468
- Median home value
- $171,200
- Jobs located here
- 98,120
- Highest market score
- 75
- House cleaning, #28 of 375 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Fort Smith metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Fort Smith metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Fort Smith metro area has an estimated 234,140 people and 90,992 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Fort Smith metro area grew 3.1%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Fort Smith metro area is $58,468, 28% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Fort Smith metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (58).
Of the business types scored in the Fort Smith metro area, house cleaning businesses (75); landscaping and lawn care companies (75); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (73) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For house cleaning businesses, that ranks #28 of 375 scored metro areas.
The Fort Smith metro area takes in 3 counties: Sebastian County, AR; Crawford County, AR; and Sequoyah County, OK. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for oil change and quick-lube shops (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for mortgage brokers and lenders (74% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Fort Smith metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Fort Smith metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House cleaning | 75 | #28 of 375 | 9 | 1.0 | $13.4M | 209 | 35 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 75 | #33 of 385 | 27 | 3.0 | $4.5M | 152 | 47 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 73 | #38 of 387 | 58 | 6.4 | $2.1M | 124 | 97 |
| Pet stores | 70 | #50 of 382 | 11 | 1.2 | $6.4M | 141 | 4 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 66 | #47 of 373 | 10 | 1.1 | Index only | 321 | 9 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 55 | #124 of 347 | 11 | 1.2 | $4.7M | 117 | 18 |
| Insurance agencies | 51 | #180 of 387 | 180 | 19.8 | $1.3M | 102 | 110 |
| Funeral homes | 50 | #177 of 377 | 18 | 2.0 | $715K | 105 | 13 |
| Real estate | 50 | #178 of 387 | 232 | 25.5 | Index only | 124 | 149 |
| Chiropractors | 47 | #207 of 386 | 35 | 3.8 | $2.6M | 108 | 22 |
| Electricians | 47 | #217 of 383 | 20 | 2.2 | $11.7M | 97 | 56 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 47 | #227 of 386 | 38 | 4.2 | $1.8M | 73 | 10 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #217 of 387 | 192 | 21.1 | Index only | 119 | 80 |
| Auto repair shops | 46 | #242 of 387 | 219 | 24.1 | $373K | 84 | 74 |
| Auto repair and car care | 42 | #265 of 387 | 389 | 42.8 | $210K | 78 | 116 |
| Pet businesses | 41 | #269 of 387 | 105 | 11.5 | $668K | 76 | 43 |
| Convenience stores | 40 | #261 of 387 | 92 | 10.1 | $5.5M | 70 | 12 |
| Gas stations | 39 | #275 of 387 | 147 | 16.2 | $1.8M | 76 | 113 |
| Car washes and detailing | 39 | #284 of 387 | 44 | 4.8 | $1.9M | 74 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #287 of 387 | 99 | 10.9 | $3M | 81 | 38 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 38 | #306 of 387 | 35 | 3.8 | $1.5M | 74 | 14 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 36 | #294 of 387 | 192 | 21.1 | $2.6M | 78 | 48 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 36 | #309 of 387 | 96 | 10.6 | $943K | 96 | 77 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 35 | #297 of 381 | 40 | 4.4 | $2M | 66 | 21 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 35 | #308 of 387 | 61 | 6.7 | $3.8M | 81 | 81 |
| Property management | 35 | #311 of 374 | 28 | 3.1 | Index only | 80 | 43 |
| Home repair trades | 35 | #315 of 387 | 118 | 13.0 | $2M | 82 | 159 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 35 | #322 of 387 | 116 | 12.7 | $450K | 68 | 32 |
| Hair salons | 35 | #342 of 387 | 224 | 24.6 | $321K | 75 | 33 |
| Laundromats | 34 | #277 of 364 | 16 | 1.8 | $9.5M | 76 | 5 |
| Gyms | 34 | #329 of 387 | 70 | 7.7 | $746K | 57 | 18 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 34 | #343 of 387 | 456 | 50.1 | $158K | 74 | 67 |
| Spas and skin care | 34 | #343 of 387 | 105 | 11.5 | $686K | 78 | 16 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 33 | #321 of 387 | 100 | 11.0 | $3M | 72 | 46 |
| Grocery stores | 32 | #311 of 387 | 61 | 6.7 | $8.3M | 89 | 36 |
| Veterinarians | 32 | #316 of 384 | 33 | 3.6 | $2.1M | 78 | 29 |
| Nail salons | 32 | #349 of 387 | 71 | 7.8 | $1M | 61 | 10 |
| Tire shops | 31 | #314 of 386 | 55 | 6.0 | $1.5M | 59 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 31 | #326 of 387 | 46 | 5.1 | $702K | 70 | 53 |
| Roofing and gutters | 31 | #328 of 381 | 37 | 4.1 | $6.3M | 75 | 22 |
| Pest control | 30 | #303 of 345 | 22 | 2.4 | $5.5M | 54 | 15 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 30 | #312 of 387 | 128 | 14.1 | $2.3M | 76 | 189 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #336 of 387 | 942 | 103.5 | $317K | 85 | 398 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 30 | #344 of 387 | 636 | 69.9 | $142K | 93 | 365 |
| Barbershops | 29 | #336 of 387 | 49 | 5.4 | $1.5M | 78 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 28 | #355 of 387 | 528 | 58.0 | $566K | 85 | 162 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 27 | #331 of 387 | 163 | 17.9 | $933K | 73 | 78 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 26 | #345 of 387 | 64 | 7.0 | $1.4M | 79 | 179 |
| Dry cleaners | 25 | #250 of 272 | 10 | 1.1 | $15.2M | 97 | 18 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 25 | #343 of 387 | 215 | 23.6 | $707K | 80 | 101 |
| Pizza | 25 | #358 of 387 | 88 | 9.7 | $3.4M | 67 | 189 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 24 | #266 of 290 | 13 | 1.4 | $6.3M | 46 | 10 |
| Physical therapy | 23 | #366 of 386 | 48 | 5.3 | $1.9M | 78 | 59 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 19 | #374 of 386 | 37 | 4.1 | $2.4M | 78 | 23 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.4 | $22.6M | 92 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.2 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Fort Smith metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $81.7M | $898 | 94 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $268.1M | $2,947 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $298.6M | $3,282 | 81 |
| Groceries | $506.8M | $5,569 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $72M | $791 | 79 |
| Child care and other personal services | $32.3M | $355 | 61 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $52.2M | $574 | 58 |
| Medical and dental services | $90.5M | $995 | 77 |
| Pets | $70.1M | $771 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $152.1M | $1,672 | 81 |
| Vehicle insurance | $230.6M | $2,534 | 129 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $233.6M | $2,568 | 85 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $120.4M | $1,323 | 94 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.3B | $13,745 | 82 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Fort Smith metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 234,140+3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 90,992
- Median age
- 39.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 67%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,800 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 128
- Median household income
- $58,468
- Average household income
- $82,344
- Median home value
- $171,200
- Jobs located here
- 98,120
- Daytime population
- 234,865Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Fort Smith metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Fort Smith metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Fort Smith metro area 3
- Sebastian County, AR128,900 people
- Crawford County, AR61,139 people
- Sequoyah County, OK39,860 people
Other markets based in Arkansas 12
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area758,629 people
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area577,726 people
- Jonesboro, AR metro area135,792 people
- Hot Springs, AR metro area100,035 people
- Russellville, AR area84,265 people
- Searcy, AR area77,838 people
- Pine Bluff, AR area72,255 people
- Paragould, AR area46,432 people
- Harrison, AR area45,250 people
- Mountain Home, AR area42,407 people
- Blytheville, AR area39,126 people
- Batesville, AR area38,175 people
Questions
How fast is the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Fort Smith metro area at 234,140 people in 2025, up 3.1% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 90,992 households.
How much do households in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area spend?
Households in the Fort Smith metro area spend about $1.3B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $506.8M on groceries and $298.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Fort Smith metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (58).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Fort Smith metro area are for house cleaning businesses (75); landscaping and lawn care companies (75); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (73). The Fort Smith metro area ranks #28 of 375 scored metro areas for house cleaning businesses.
How does the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Fort Smith metro area is $58,468 a year, 28% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $171,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Fort Smith metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for oil change and quick-lube shops (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for mortgage brokers and lenders (74% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 54 of the 56 business types have a score in the Fort Smith metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Fort Smith metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Arkansas · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Fort Smith metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Fort Smith metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.