Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Fort Smith, AR
The median monthly rent in Fort Smith, AR is $920, translating to $11,040 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.59% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices.
Renters in Fort Smith spend approximately 27% of the local median household income ($40,800) on rent. This is within the healthy 25-30% range, indicating rent is affordable relative to local incomes. There may be room for moderate rent increases, especially for updated or well-located units.
The vacancy rate in Fort Smith is 6.8%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Population growth of 0.3% annually provides stable demand.
Fort Smith's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 14.0x. A GRM between 12-16x is moderate and typical of balanced markets. Deals can work but you need to keep expenses controlled. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x.
At the median rent of $920/mo, a single-family rental in Fort Smith generates approximately $11,040 in gross annual income. After accounting for 6.8% vacancy ($751 lost), property taxes of $930, insurance (~$620), and maintenance (~$620), the estimated NOI is $8,119 per year, or $677/mo.