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Fort Smith vs West Memphis Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Fort Smith crime rate · West Memphis crime rate

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Is Fort Smith or West Memphis Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Fort Smith is safer than West Memphis (Safety Score 5/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 4,528 per 100,000 versus 6,584 for West Memphis — 31% lower. Fort Smith has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Fort Smith has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Fort Smith is 3.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Fort Smith, AR?

Fort Smith — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

West Memphis — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Fort Smith, AR

Fort Smith, AR
Safety Score 5/100
Coverage 89,977
Total Crime Rate 4,527.8
Category Wins 7/7

West Memphis, AR

West Memphis, AR
Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 23,617
Total Crime Rate 6,584.2
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Fort Smith West Memphis Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,527.8 6,584.2 -2,056.4
Violent Crime Rate 843.6 1,926.6 -1,083.0
Murder Rate 0.0 72.0 -72.0
Rape Rate 90.0 122.8 -32.8
Robbery Rate 65.6 203.2 -137.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 686.8 1,524.3 -837.5
Property Crime Rate 3,684.3 4,657.7 -973.4
Burglary Rate 466.8 1,067.0 -600.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,904.1 3,006.3 -102.2
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 313.4 584.3 -270.9

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Fort Smith, AR to West Memphis, AR?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fort Smith or West Memphis safer?

Fort Smith is safer with a total crime rate of 4,528 per 100K vs 6,584 for West Memphis — a 31% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Fort Smith has a violent crime rate of 843.6 per 100K while West Memphis has 1,926.6. Fort Smith has lower violent crime.

About Fort Smith, AR

Fort Smith, once a frontier military post, sits on the Arkansas River bordering Oklahoma. This city of over 89,000 residents is the second-largest urban area in Arkansas. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 89,977, Fort Smith has a total crime rate of 4,527.8 per 100,000 residents.

About West Memphis, AR

West Memphis, Arkansas, a Mississippi River town, historically served as a vital railroad hub. It's situated directly across from Memphis, Tennessee, and has a predominantly African American population. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 23,617, West Memphis has a total crime rate of 6,584.2 per 100,000 residents.

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