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D-

Is Fort Smith, Arkansas Safe?

Population 90,855 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Fort Smith has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 281.3 per 1,000 residents. Theft is the most common offense at 2,164 per 100K, which is well above the national average.

Fort Smith Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricFort SmithArkansas AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate331.1333.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2482.12019.01,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate268.0--268.2
Theft Rate2164.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate397.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD-

281.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

331/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2482/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Fort Smith

Violent crime in Fort Smith is close to the national average. The rate of 331.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2482.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,164 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Fort Smith Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault268
0100% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery69
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary438
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,164
01.5x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft397
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Fort Smith Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Smith
331.1
State
333.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Smith
2482.1
State
2019.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Smith Safety

Is Fort Smith safe?
Not especially. Fort Smith earns a D- with a crime rate of 281.3 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Fort Smith?
281.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 331.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2482.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Fort Smith safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Fort Smith's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,164 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Fort Smith?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Fort Smith generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Fort Smith police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Fort Smith?
No. Crime in Fort Smith has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Fort Smith compare to other cities in Arkansas?
Below average for the state. Fort Smith ranks behind about 97% of Arkansas cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Fort Smith to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Fort Smith?
Bad. A D- grade and 281.3 per-thousand rate put Fort Smith below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 331 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Fort Smith?
331.1 per 100,000, which is 9% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (268), robbery (69), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Arkansas

Similar-sized communities in Arkansas. Compare crime rates across the state.

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See crime rates in Springdale90,685 pop · Grade C-
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See crime rates in Rogers76,956 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Fayetteville106,623 pop · Grade D+
F
See crime rates in Conway72,328 pop · Grade F
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See crime rates in North Little Rock65,120 pop · Grade D-
View all Arkansas city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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