COMPARING TWO PLACES
Wister vs Fort Smith
PLACE A
Wister, Oklahoma
VS
PLACE B
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Wister is 99% smaller than Fort Smith. Fort Smith earns more, with a median household income $18,209 higher. Fort Smith has grown faster since 2000 (3% vs -6%).
WISTERFORT SMITHDIFFERENCE
Total population1,06890,855−99% vs Fort Smith
Population density5651,415−850
Population growth-6.4%3.4%−9.8 pts
Median age35.936.5−0.6
Male48.2%49.5%−1.3 pts
Female51.8%50.5%+1.3 pts
Foreign-born1.0%11.9%−10.9 pts
White, non-Hispanic66.9%58.1%+8.7 pts
Black0.1%7.0%−6.9 pts
Hispanic / Latino7.5%20.5%−13.0 pts
Asian0.0%5.3%−5.3 pts
Other25.5%9.1%+16.5 pts
Median household income$36,607$54,816−$18,209
Per capita income$24,413$34,413−$10,000
Poverty rate25.3%18.3%+7.1 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.5140.521Even
Bachelor's degree or higher7.5%23.9%−16.4 pts
Graduate degree3.8%9.9%−6.1 pts
Unemployment rate4.5%6.5%−2.0 pts
Labor force participation44.3%61.9%−17.6 pts
Median home value$106,500$178,100−$71,600
Median gross rent$788$884−$96
Owner-occupied68.5%53.4%+15.1 pts
Housing vacancy rate15.8%9.1%+6.6 pts
Rent-burdened households31.0%39.5%−8.6 pts
Average commute32.916.8+16.2
Worked from home2.1%7.8%−5.7 pts
Public transit to work0.0%0.1%−0.1 pts
Uninsured21.1%12.7%+8.4 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025