Little Rock is a mid-sized city of 202,218 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $58,697
and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Little Rock stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Little Rock is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Little Rock city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.1
Little Rock's overall cost of living index is 89.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Little Rock costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Little Rock, AR
National Avg
Median Home Value
$205,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,006
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,697
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Little Rock's violent crime rate is 1672.0 per 100,000 residents
— 340% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1672.0 /100k
Property Crime
5214.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Little Rock is served primarily by LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Little Rock, AR
National Avg
School District
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
24
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
44.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Little Rock sees average highs of 50.5°F in January
and 91.7°F in July,
with 52.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.8 inches of snow per year.
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Little Rock roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $205,800 and median rent is $1,006/month.
Little Rock's violent crime rate is 1672.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5214.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Little Rock are operated by LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 24 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 44.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Little Rock, AR has a population of 202,218, a median household income of $58,697, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Little Rock averages 50.5°F in January and 91.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.4 inches
with about 3.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Little Rock, AR is covered by 13 ZIP codes: 72209, 72206, 72223, 72204, 72211, 72205, 72202, 72210, 72103, 72212, 72227, 72207, 72201.
The population of Little Rock, Arkansas is 202,218 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Little Rock: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $205,800, median household income $58,697, crime index 363 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Little Rock side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
