Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Fort Smith, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.5% of gross income.

Fort Smith rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Fort Smith median rent
$1,071/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Arkansas)
$82,759/yr
Rent as % of income
15.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,897, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,069/mo in rent. Fort Smith's median rent of $1,071 leaves roughly $998/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 26.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Fort Smith, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

North Little Rock, AR
$1,069/mo (15.5% of income)
Jacksonville, AR
$1,069/mo (15.5% of income)
North Little Rock, AR
$1,064/mo (15.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Smith

View full rent data for Fort Smith, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?

Median rent in Fort Smith is $1,071 a month. A typical physical therapist in Arkansas earns about $82,759 a year, which makes that rent 15.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Fort Smith?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Arkansas (~$82,759/yr) supports up to $2,069 a month in rent. Fort Smith's current median rent is $1,071/mo, which leaves a $998/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Fort Smith?

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a physical therapist in Arkansas works roughly 26.9 hours a month to cover Fort Smith's median rent of $1,071.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Smith for a physical therapist?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,069/mo), Jacksonville ($1,069/mo), North Little Rock ($1,064/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Arkansas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Fort Smith, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.